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Antifertility effects of 60-day oral gavage of ethanol extract of Spondias mombin leaves in guinea pigs: A biochemical, reproductive and histological study
Authors: Olalekan Bukunmi Ogunro, Musa Toyin Yakubu
Number of views: 154
Objective: To investigate the impact of ethanol extract of Spondias
(S.) mombin leaves on the biochemical parameters of testicular
function, hormonal profile, sperm profile and reproductive outcomes
of guinea pigs.
Methods: Sexually matured male [(1000.40±8.12) g] and female
[(810.00±7.09) g] guinea pigs were used. In testicular function
study, a total of 24 male guinea pigs were randomised into 4 groups
of 6 guinea pigs each. Group A (control) was orally administered
1 mL of physiological saline, once daily for 60 days while groups
B, C and D were treated like the control group except that they were
orally administered 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight of ethanol
extract of S. mombin leaves. For the fertility study, the same animal
groupings and treatments in the testicular function study were
adopted. The male guinea pigs were paired with the females (1:1)
and afterwards examined for pregnancy outcomes.
Results: The ethanol extract of S. mombin leaves contained
saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, phenolics,
phlobatannins, cardiac glycosides, cardenolides and dienolides
with saponins (4.80 mg/mL) occurring the most whilst
cardenolides and dienolides (0.08 mg/mL) were the least. The
ethanol extract of S. mombin leaves significantly and dose
dependently reduced the activities of alkaline phosphatase,
glutamate dehydrogenase, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme
A reductase, malic enzyme, 17-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase,
lactate dehydrogenase, catalase and superoxide dismutase as well
as levels of testosterone, glycogen, total protein and ascorbic acid in
the testes when compared with the control group (P<0.05). All the
doses of ethanol extract of S. mombin leaves also reduced the levels
of sorbitol dehydrogenase, 3-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase,
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and sialic acid whereas the
levels of testicular acid phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase
and cholesterol increased dose dependently (P<0.05). The serum
luteinising hormone, testosterone and estradiol were reduced after
the administration of ethanol extract of S. mombin leaves whereas
levels of serum follicle stimulating hormone increased significantly.
The 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of ethanol extract of S. mombin
leaves increased the testosterone/estradiol ratios whilst
the 500 mg/kg body weight of ethanol extract of S. mombin
leaves decreased it. The sperm motility, sperm count, normal sperm
morphology, sperm density, sperm viability and semen viscosity
were significantly reduced in the ethanol extract of S. mombin
leaves-treated guinea pigs (P<0.05) whereas the head-, tail- and
neck-defects increased significantly when compared with the
control group (P<0.05). In contrast, the semen volume and pH were
not significantly altered by the ethanol extract of S. mombin leaves
(P>0.05). The ethanol extract of S. mombin leaves at both 100 and
250 mg/kg body weight significantly reduced the total number,
circumference, weight and length of the pups whereas the
500 mg/kg body weight of ethanol extract of S. mombin leaves-treated
rats did not produce any pup. The 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight
of ethanol extract of S. mombin leaves induced degenerative and
necrotic changes in the seminiferous tubules with vacuoles in the
germinal epithelium and a few to complete absence of spermatozoa.
In all of these, the 500 mg/kg body weight of ethanol extract of S.
mombin leaves produced the most pronounced alteration on the
parameters.
Conclusions: S. mombin leaves have induced infertility in the male
guinea pigs via endocrine dysregulation, anti-spermatogenic activity,
testicular dysfunction and oxidative stress and made possible by
the presence of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids,
phenolics, and cardiac glycosides.