Assessment of the antioxidant potential of alcoholic extract of <i>Garcinia</i> kola seed in alcohol induced testicular oxidative stress in sprague-dawley rat

Abstract

The action of alcoholic extract of Garcinia kola (G. kola) seed as an antioxidant was investigated in alcohol induced testicular oxidative stress. 40 adult Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 100 - 150g were used for the study. These were divided into a control and 7 experimental groups of 6 rats each. These were fed one of alcohol, G. kola or alcohol and G. kola combined daily by gastric gavage. At the end of eight weeks of experiment, the animals were sacrificed after anaesthesia, Histological study (H & E), sperm count, assay for testicular Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Catalase activity were determined. Results obtained revealed testicular lesion in the groups that received 500mg/kgw of extract, and 500mg/kgw with 2g of ethanol (concurrently) for 8 weeks. Slightly reduced sperm count was observed in ethanol/ extract (500mg/kg) combined group. There was increased testicular MDA and increased catalase activity in the groups that received 2g of ethanol only and 2g of ethanol concurrently with 500mg/kg extract. G. kola seed extract has a dose dependent antioxidant activity but may not be effective in alleviating alcohol induced testicular oxidative stress.

Keywords: Garcinia kola seed, antioxidant, alcohol induced stress, testis, rat

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5(1) 2006: 37-42