Abelmoschus esculentus Moench L. leaf inhibited lipid peroxidation and deproteination, and caused dose-dependent spermatogenesis and impaired hormonal synchronism in Wistar rats

Abstract

Several reports have given credence to the acceptance of Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench (okra) leaf or “Ilasa soup” in Igbo-Ora, Oyo State, Nigeria, which has a record as the world's highest twinning rate influences their multiple births. Okra fruit is highly consumed in Nigeria and had been proposed to be responsible for modulating hormones that are responsible for sterility in males as a result of gossypol or a gossypol-like compound that stimulates infertility. However, there was no information available on the effects of the leaf on fertility or sterility in females and males. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of okra leaf extract on some hormones that are linked to fertility in male and female Wistar rats. Ethanol leaf extract of okra plant was prepared and administered to male and female Wistar rats in the following doses-10, 100, 1000, 1600, 2900, and 5000 mg/kg BWT for a period of 28 days. The spectrophotometric determination of serum estrogen and progesterone of female rats, as well as testosterone determination in serum of male rats, was conducted. The effects of the treatment on the histology of the uterine and testicular tissues were examined. Also determined were the extent of the inhibition of lipid peroxidation using, the concentration of MDA generated, and the degeneration of protein mass using an assay of total protein determination. The results showed a dose-dependent effect on the concentrations of serum progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. There was a dose-dependent increase in the concentration of progesterone and a decrease in the concentration of estrogen. The histological architecture of the gonadal tissues did not show impairments in the histology that could suggest toxicity resulting in sterility. Okra leaf extract could cause a reduction in spermatogenesis depending on the dose and affect the synchronism between progesterone and estrogen in adult male and female animals respectively.