Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of the polyphenolic rich Ficus asperifolia (Miq.) leaf extract in protecting rat testes against carbon tetrachloride-induced testicular damage in male Wistar rats. Thirty rats (weighing 140 - 180 g) were divided into five groups. In each treatment groups, aqueous extract of F. asperifolia (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg bw) administered by oral gavage for 21 days before exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) 3 mL kg 1i.p. were used to test protective influence of the plant extract. Protective influence were observed on antioxidant marker enzymes such as reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malonaldehyde (MDA) and histological examination.. Animal exposure to the CCl4 resulted in significant elevation in the MDA with concomitant depletion (p < 0.05) in the level of GPx, CAT and SOD activities compared with control. Daily oral administration of F. asperifolia showed beneficial and ameliorative effects in all biochemical parameter evaluated. Histopathological alteration in testes was observed in CCl4 untreated rats and was ameliorated inCCl4 rats treated with F. asperifolia. Result shows that the aqueous leaf extract of F. asperifolia has ameliorative effect against carbon tetrachloride-induced testicular toxicity.
Highlights
Infertility is a major clinical problem, affecting majority of the people medically and psychosocially (Rowe, 2006)
Pre- administration of aqueous extract F. asperifolia (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) reduced the severity of CCl4 toxicity, as evident from the non-significant differences observed in the oxidative stress indicators and antioxidant enzyme levels in these groups
Reproductive toxicity from heavy and non-flammable industrial liquid in males is one of the areas of concern in toxicology today and our result in this present study showed that exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) (3 mL kg-1 CCl4 orally for 21 days) in rats caused stern testicular toxicity resulting in the obstruction of spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis, evidenced by the increase in the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), GSH, CAT and testicular content of MDA of the CCl4 treated group
Summary
Infertility is a major clinical problem, affecting majority of the people medically and psychosocially (Rowe, 2006). Oxidative stress results from either a decrease of natural cell antioxidant capacity or an increased amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in organisms. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), is a clear, colourless, volatile, heavy and non-flammable industrial liquid, widely used to induce free radical toxicity in various tissues of experimental animals such as Maintaining the balance between reactive oxygen species and natural antioxidants could serve as a major mechanism in preventing damage by oxidative stress induced by toxic agents. Antioxidant defense systems that protect the body from free radical damage include the antioxidant nutrients and enzymes (Sreelatha et al, 2009). Antioxidant and radical scavengers have been used to study the mechanism of CCl4 toxicity as well as to protect tissue cells from CCl4 induced damage by breaking the chain of lipid peroxidation (Weber et al, 2003)
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