ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE METHANOLIC NUT EXTRACT ATTENUATED TESTICULAR DYSFUNCTIONS IN HIGH-FAT DIET AND STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC MALE WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Background: Diabetes induces reproductive ailment and modern therapy is still unsatisfactory to combat diabetes-related reproductive impairment. This study investigated effect of Anacardium occidentale nut methanolic extract on testicular dysfunctions in high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
 Materials and Methods: Forty adult male Wistar rats weighing (180 ± 20 g) were used for the experiment. Diabetes was induced with a repeated single dose of freshly prepared streptozotocin (35 mg/kgb.wt) injected intraperitoneally after fed with HFD for six weeks. The animals were randomly allotted into five groups, 8rats/group. Group I: control; Group II: diabetic control; Group III & IV: diabetic rats + low dose (100 mg/kgb.wt) and high dose (200 mg/kgb.wt) Anacardium occidentale nut methanolic extract; Group V: diabetic rats + 200 mg/kgbwp.o metformin for 28 days. Daily food and water intake with weekly body weight and fasting blood glucose were recorded throughout the experimental phase. On the last day of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed, blood sample were collected and testes was harvested for biochemical assay.
 Results: Reproductive hormones, sperm parameters, testicular antioxidants, testicular B-cell lymphoma-2, testicular enzymes, body and weight of reproductive organs were significant (p<0.05) reduced in diabetic rats with significant (p<0.05) increase in blood glucose, insulin, sperm abnormalities, testicular caspase-3, testicular malondialdehyde (MDA), and food intake. Low dose (100 mg/kgb.wt) and high dose (200 mg/kgb.wt) Anacardium occidentale nut methanolic extract administration significantly (p<0.05) improved the testicular biochemical changes.
 Conclusion: Anacardium occidentale nut attenuated testicular dysfunctions and could be a novel therapy for diabetes-induced reproductive dysfunctions.