Ameliorative Effects of <i>Adansonia Digitata</i> Leaf Extract on Carbon Tetrachloride (CCL₄) Induced Testicular Toxicity in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Adansonia digitata is locally consumed as food in Nigeria. In the present study, the ameliorative effect of the aqueous leaf extract of Adansonia digitata (AeAD) was evaluated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) – induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats. To evaluate the effect of AeAD in CCl4 induced testicular toxicity, 20 adult male Wistar rats were equally divided into 4 groups (n=5). Group A animals received 1 ml olive oil per os (p.o) for two weeks, Group B animals received 2.5 ml/kg CCl4 (50% in olive oil, p.o) for two days, Group C animals received 500 ml/kg AeAD (p.o) for two weeks while Group D animals received 2.5 ml/kg CCl4 (50% in olive oil, p.o) for two days followed by 500 ml/kg AeAD (p.o) for two weeks. The ameliorative effects of AeAD were observed on reproductive hormonal parameters, activity of an antioxidant enzyme and cyto-architecture of the testis. Carbon tetrachloride treatment significantly (P<0.05) reduced levels of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and superoxide dismutase levels with distortions in the cyto-architecture of the testes in treated animals. These effects were ameliorated with AeAD treatment. The results demonstrated that the AeAD has the ability to ameliorate against carbontetrachloride-induced testicular toxicity  suggesting it may have a therapeutic role in free radical mediated diseases.

Keywords: Antioxidant; SOD; Testes; Histology.