For ages, humans and animals have relied on plants for fundamental requirements such as food, clothing, and shelter. Medicinal plants have been a source of biologically active substances, employed widely as crude materials or as purified compounds to treat diseases. Plant-based traditional medicine plays a crucial role in the development of novelties in drug discovery [1]. There has been a paradigm shift in the use of botanicals for the ethno-therapeutic uses worldwide. Herbal drugs have been known to decrease the numerous side-effects and level of resistance associated with synthetic drugs. Despite the fact that several medicinal plants have significant therapeutic benefits, some of the compounds may be potentially harmful to body organs [2].

Azanza garckeana (AG) is locally called ‘goron tula’ (Hausa, Nigeria); African chewing gum (English) [3]. In Nigeria, it is abundantly found in Tula, Gombe State, Kankiya, Katsina State and Daggish Kali highlands of Zah district, Adamawa State [4]. AG is widely consumed in Northern Nigeria owing to its fast action in boosting energy for sexual satisfaction. It is very rich in antioxidants, phenols, flavonoids, which scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage cell membranes and DNA [5]. There has been an increase in sterility and infertility both in humans and animals due to inherent, environmental, metabolic factors and unhealthy lifestyles. Several studies have linked declining reproduction, especially male fertility, to environmental toxicants, particularly endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDS) such as Bisphenol A (BPA) [6]. Laboratory rodent studies suggest that the plasticizer acts as a reproductive environmental pollutant [7]. The BPA is one of the most widely produced chemicals in the world [8], used in the manufacture of plastics and epoxy resins that are pervasive in the environment [9]. It is found in most canned goods, plastics, and even household dust. There is widespread exposure to BPA as a reproductive toxicant. Its usage may rise globally because it is a cheaper material used by many industries, especially for polycarbonate plastic-manufacturing processes and food packaging [10]. As a result, human and animal exposure becomes inevitable with its attendant negative consequences on reproduction [11]. Exposure to BPA results in increased ROS generation in the body including the testes, which decreases the antioxidant level of the body and impairs spermatogenesis [12]. The antioxidant potential of stem bark extracts of AG using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydryl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity was evaluated by [13]. It was reported that AG exhibits very high-scavenging properties, when compared to standard antioxidants like ascorbic acid and vitamin E.

Researchers believe that AG may be used as a fertility enhancer and may reduce the dependence on synthetic drugs as a fertility-enhancing agent [14]. It contains various phytochemical compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids and phenolics. It has some nutritional and pharmacological properties, which may exert beneficial effects on male reproduction. This is essential as it opens up the possibility for utilizing its high-value reproductive, nutritional, nutraceutical, bioactive, preventive and therapeutic properties [15]. The properties may be used as dietary supplements of functional foods in the treatment of reproductive problems such as decreased libido, infertility, weak and poor sperm production [15]. AG is also a potential source of fertility compounds, possessing both spermatogenic and aphrodisiac activities, which may be utilized in traditional or alternative health-care systems [4]. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the ameliorative properties of Azanza garckeana on Bisphenol A-induced reproductive toxicities on weight, spermiogram, serum hormonal profile, sperm DNA integrity, histopathology of testes and brain tissues of rabbit bucks.