ABSTRACT
Alcohol intake increases sexual intoxication and sexual desire but inhibits sexual performance. This study was aimed at determining the possible ameliorative effect of the ethanolic leaf extract of P. guajava against alcohol-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats. Male albino mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (1 to 5) of 6 animals each. Animals in all the groups received an oral dose of ethanol. Animals in group 1 served as the negative control group and they received 2 mL of distilled water following administration of the oral doses of ethanol. Animals in groups 2, 3, and 4 received 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg of the ethanol extract of P. guajava leaf respectively. Animals in group 5 served as the positive control wherein they received 50 mg/kg of ascorbic acid. All administration was done by means of oral gavage daily for a period of 21 days and the body weight of animals in each group was determined every 7 days. At the end of the 21 days treatment period, the rats were fasted overnight, anesthetized in a chloroform saturated chamber, sacrificed, and dissected. The blood was collected through the inferior vena cava into plain bottles centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes to obtain the blood serum as the supernatant which was collected into plain bottles. The testes were surgically removed and placed in sterile tissue bottles containing Bouin’s solution for histopathological test. The caudal epididymis was also surgically extracted for the sperm analysis. The results of biochemical analysis shows that the ethanolic leaf extract of P. guajava caused a significant dose dependent decrease in malondialdehyde level, dose dependent increase in glutathione peroxidise level, superoxide dismutase level and catalase enzyme levels. The result of the androgen hormone assay showed a dose dependent increase in testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels. The result of the sperm morphology test showed a dose independent increase in sperm normal forms. The result of the sperm motility test showed a dose independent increase in sperm progressive motility. There was no significant difference in sperm count. The result of the histopathological evaluation shoed that experimental animals in treatment group showed leydig cell regeneration, normal sequential maturation and active interstitial congestion. Ethanolic leaf extract of P. guajava therefore have ameliorative effect against alcohol-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.
Key words: Psidium guajava, chronic alcohol consumption, male factor infertility, male reproductive parameters, anti-oxidant in male reproduction.
