{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,19]],"date-time":"2026-09-19T19:14:36Z","timestamp":1789845276973,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Bioscientifica","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,28]],"date-time":"2026-02-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1772236800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":423,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.bioscientifica.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Chromolaena odorata is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine. Despite its therapeutic applications, there are concerns regarding its potential toxic effects. This study investigates the dose-dependent effects of C. odorata on the fertility of adult male Wistar rats. A total of 25 male rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 5). Group A (Control), received distilled water (2 mL\/kg), while groups B, C, D and E were administered 120, 200, 500 and 700 mg\/kg of the aqueous extract of C. odorata daily for 28 days, respectively, after which they were sacrificed. Testicular weights, hormone levels, total protein and oxidative stress markers were evaluated, and the testes were evaluated histologically. GraphPad Prism version 10.2 was used to analyze the data. Results were described as the mean \u00b1 standard error of means (S.E.M.). One-way analysis of variance\u00a0 (at a 95% confidence level) was used to compare the means of the control group and experimental groups using GraphPad Prism (version 10.2.0). There was a statistically significant reduction (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in testicular weights, hormone levels (luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone) and total protein concentration, and a significant increase in catalase and malondialdehyde in groups D and E. Histomorphological analysis of groups D and E revealed severe structural distortions in the testes, presence of inflammatory cells, collapsed lumen with reduced luminal content, degenerating epithelium, loss of stereocilia cells and poorly arranged connective tissue fibers. High-dose administration of C. odorata extract induces significant histomorphological damage to the testes, disrupts reproductive hormone levels and increases oxidative stress, resulting in impaired male fertility in Wistar rats.<\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Lay summary<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study explored how Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed), a plant used in traditional medicine, affects male fertility. Using adult male Wistar rats, the research focused on the impact of high doses of the plant\u2019s extract on reproductive health. After 28 days of treatment, rats given high doses showed a significant drop in the size of their reproductive organs and lower levels of key reproductive hormones, suggesting potential fertility issues. In addition, oxidative stress, which can damage cells, was higher in these rats, and their reproductive organs showed signs of serious damage, including inflammation and structural breakdown. The findings suggest that while Chromolaena odorata may have medicinal uses, consuming it in large amounts could harm male fertility by disrupting hormone balance and damaging reproductive tissues.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1530\/raf-24-0102","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,24]],"date-time":"2025-02-24T08:13:17Z","timestamp":1740384797000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1530\/crossmarkpolicy-13","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["<i>Chromolaena odorata<\/i>\n                    and male fertility: evidence from the testes and epididymis of Wistar rats"],"prefix":"10.1530","volume":"6","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4328-6769","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Eguono Raphael","family":"Uwejigho","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. University of Medical Sciences 1 , , ,","place":["Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Felix O","family":"Enemali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. University of Medical Sciences 1 , , ,","place":["Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9861-5200","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Victor Oghenekparobo","family":"Emojevwe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Medical Sciences 2 , , ,","place":["Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jesuyomike Marvellous","family":"Oluremi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. 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