Effects of aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis on cadmium-chloride-induced testicular toxicity in adult male wistar rats
1, 2, Department of Anatomy, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State
*1Odiase D. E. and 2Ezeokoye, U. E.
Corresponding Author: daniel.odiase@uniben.edu
Recieved Date: June 2022; Accepted Date: June 2022; Published Date: June, 2022
ABSTRACT
Background/Objective: Jatropha tanjorensis is widely consumed and used for the treatment of some diseases. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of aqueous leaves extract of Jatropha tanjorensis on cadmium-chloride induced testicular toxicity in adult male Wistar rats. Materials and method: Thirty (30) male Wistar rats used for this study were separated into six groups of five rats. Treatment was administered daily for fifty-six days. Group A was the control; groups B and C rats were treated with 250mg/ kg body weight, 500mg/ kg body weight of leaves extract, group D was treated with 20mg/kg Cadmium chloride only, group E was treated with 250mg/kg body weight of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves extract and 20mg/kg body weight of cadmium while group F rats were treated with 500mg/kg body weight of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves extract and 20mg/kg Cadmium. The rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected and used to determine glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and malondialdehyde (MDA) activities. The testes were surgically harvested, weighed and used for histological studies. The data were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA; 95% confidence interval). Results: The results showed that the plant leaf extract exhibited good anti-oxidant properties and the deleterious effect of Cadmium was mitigated by it at a dose of 500mg/kg body weight with resultant improvement in sperm characteristics and histological architecture of the testes. Conclusion, Jatropha tanjorensis leaves extract does not exhibit antifertility effects but confers protection against cadmium toxicity at a dose of 500mg/kg body weight.