Influence of Graded Dose of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract Administered Orally on Testicular Pathology, Gonadal and Extra Gonadal Sperm Reserves of Wistar Rats Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Moringa oleifera seeds are known for their high protein and vitamin content. Antioxidants are abundant in these seeds. Aqueous extraction was done. After that, an acute toxicity test was performed. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to see how a graded dose of M. oleifera aqueous seed extracts altered testicular pathology, gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves in Wistar rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. METHODS: The rats were A, B, C, D, and E were randomly assigned to five groups with group E serving as the control group. The rats in Groups A to D were inoculated intra-peritoneal with 1× 106 virulent T. brucei brucei, and they were held for one week to demonstrate clinical signs before starting the extract therapy. Every day at 10:00 a.m., the rats were given treatment for five weeks with (75, 100, 125, and 150) mg/kg of M. oleifera aqueous seed extract for groups A, B, C, and D respectively. While the control group E received 0.5 mL/kg of water. For hema-tological indices, blood samples were collected every Monday between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. All of the rats were humanely sacrificed at the end of the six-week experiment, and their gonadal and extragonadal sperm stores were collected, tested, and processed for histopathology. RESULTS: After treatment, the rats' gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves (groups A to E) showed a substantial increase (213±1.1a; 221±2.1; 250±0.0c; 259±2.6d; 295±2.6e) × 106 and (115±1.1; 160±2.1; 153±0.0; 167±2.6; 120±0.6) × 106 respectively, compared to control group at P < 0.05 level. Sperm concentration of the right epididy-mis (60.0±1.1a; 90.2±2.1b; 96.5±0.0c; 98.7±2.6d; 69.4±0.6e) × 106 were significantly higher compare to the left epididymis (55.0±1.1; 69.8±2.1; 56.5±0.0; 68.3±2.6; 50.6±0.6) × 106. The PCV (%) and WBC (103/μL) levels in groups A, B, and C were significantly greater following infection than that in group E. Infection with T. brucei at weeks 2 and 3 shows poor semen characteristics, thereafter the semen quality has improved. CONCLUSIONS: Moringa oleifera aqueous seeds extract has drastically abridged the impact of trypanosomosis and enhanced the semen quality of the experimental rats.