The Cucurbitaceae spicy plant Telfairia occidentalis leaves are used in folk medicine as aphrodisiac, and to treat male sexual disorders, inflammation, and microbial infections. It showed antibacterial activity against various microorganisms including various Gram-negative organisms. This review aims to provide better understanding on the existing profertility effects of Telfairia Occidentalis leaves on male fertility, focusing on sperm count, sperm motility and sperm morphology. Infertility can result from disorders of the testicles themselves or an abnormality affecting sperm count, sperm motility and sperm morphology. Data show that in experimental animals, extracts of Telfairia occidentalis leaves at lower dose improved sperm count, sperm motility and sperm morphology, while at higher doses, with longer durations had antifertility effects. Several extracts of Telfairia occidentalis leaves, including ethanol, aqueous, methanol and hydroethanolic, had protective effects on the seminal function of rats at lower doses (≤ 200 mg/kg body weight), but at higher doses (≥ 200 mg/kg body weight) they impaired morphological structure of the sperm cells in normal rats. The current evidence suggests that Telfairia occidentalis leaves have both profertility and antifertility effects in experimental animals. This review has demonstrated that Telfairia occidentalis leaves extract is both semino-therapeutic and semino-toxic depending on the dose and duration of intake.
