EVALUATIONOF THE GONADOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF Allanblackia floribundaOliver (Clusiacea) ON TESTES AND ACCESSORY ORGANS OF WISTAR RATS
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Date
2014
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Abstract
This study investigated the effect of the crude ethanolic extract and fractions of the stem bark of Allanblackia floribundaon the testes and accessory organs of rats. This was with a view to ascertaining the direct effects of the plant on the biochemistry and physiology of the reproductive organs of humans.
Fresh stem barks of A. floribunda were collected, identified, dried at room temperature for three weeks, and thenground into fine powder. Five hundred grammes (500 g) of the powdered stem bark was soaked in 2.5 l of 70% ethanol for 72 h, filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure at 40oC to obtain the crude ethanolic extract.Fifty grammes (50 g) of the crude extract was later partitioned to obtain the aqueous, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the extract. Forty five (45)malerats of average weight between 150-200 g were distributed into nine groups of five rats per group. Rats in group 1 (control group) were administered distilled water, while groups 2 to 5 were orally administered 200 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous, ethyl acetate, butanol fractions and crude extract respectively. Also, 300 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous, ethyl acetate, butanol fractions and crude extract were administered to groups 6 to 9 respectively. On the 29th day, the animals were sacrificed; testes, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate glands were weighed.Catalase and glutathione peroxidaseactivities were determined in the testes. Serum acid phosphatase,alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were then determined using standard procedures.
The results showed that crude extract of A. floribundacontained alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tanins, triterpenes and cardiac glycosides.The median lethal dose (LD50) of the crude extract was higher than 5000mg/kg body weight. All groupshad lower seminal vesicle, testicular and epididymis weights when compared with the control.Furthermore, testicular catalase (CAT)across the groups (0.28+0.05, 0.25+0.04, 0.53+0.21, 0.21+0.05, 0.29+0.06, 0.40+0.10, 0.27+0.07, 0.34+0.09) U/L and also testicular glutathione peroxidase (GPx): (0.19+0.01, 0.15+0.01, 0.18+0.01, 0.21+0.02, 0.17 +0.01, 0.16+0.01, 0.15+0.01) U/L/mg protein were reduced when compared with the control [0.62+0.36 U/L (CAT); 0.21+0.02 U/L/mg protein (GPx)] respectively. The prostatic acid phosphatase (ACP) activities in groups 2, 3, and 9 (10.45+1.96U/L, 7.33+0.10U/L, 18.89+1.41U/L) were significantly increased when compared with the control (2.05+0.86 U/L). However, the testicular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in groups 6 and 7 (230.18+18.89 U/L, 222.46+14.46 U/L); and testicular glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activities in groups 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9:(72.91+16.52U/L, 73.19+5.39U/L, 82.28+13.63U/L, 90.86+15.78U/L, 70.67+9.62U/L) were significantly reduced when compared with the control [362.66+21.53 U/L (ALP); 179.47+19.69U/L (G6PDH)].
The study concluded that the ethanolic extract and fractions of A. floribundahad deleterious effects on the testes and accessory organs of the animals, most especially at 300 mg/kg dosage of the crude ethanolic extract and therefore could not be used as an aphrodisiac.
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Keywords
ethanolic, extract, fractions of the stem, biochemistry, physiology