Yannick Sani Jignoua, Sara Nathalie Edjenguèlè Béboy*, Paulin Teko Keumedjio, Marie Louise Coute-Chère Mbog, Paul Fewou Moundipa
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
*Address for Corresponding Author
Sara Nathalie Edjenguèlè Béboy
Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2437-3904
Abstract
Objective: Aluminum chloride can induce toxicity of the reproductive system leading to infertility which is a real public health problem. This study was undertaken to investigate the in vivo effect of Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels aqueous extract on aluminum chloride-induced reprotoxicity in male rats. Materials and methods: Thirty male Wistar rats of 12 weeks each, weighing 160 -180 g were intraperitoneally administered aluminum chloride (20 mg/kg, body weight) for 56 days. The rats were subsequently orally treated for 56 days with Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels aqueous bark extract at doses of 43 and 86 mg/kg and a coadministration of vitamin E (100 mg/kg) and zinc (50 mg/kg). Then, the rats were killed, and blood, testes, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate were removed for histological and biochemical analysis. Results: Aluminum chloride caused significant decreases in the sexual performance of the male rats, sperm quality, catalase activity and glutathione levels (P < 0.05). The serum testosterone and fructose levels were also significantly lower in the intoxicated group (P <0.05) than in the normal control group, with decreases of 91.25 % and 8.80 % respectively. In addition, histological lesions were observed in the testes, epididymis and prostate of the intoxicated group. Our results revealed that the aluminum chloride-induced reprotoxicity was reversed by the aqueous extract of Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels. Conclusion: Oral administration of an aqueous extract of Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels; at the dose of 86 mg/kg, can alleviate the aluminum chloride-induced reprotoxicity in male rats.
Keywords: Aluminum chloride, reprotoxicity, Terminalia superba, male rats, aqueous extract
