ABSTRACT
The effects of aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca peels on cadmium-chloride induced testicular toxicity in adult male Wistar rats was studied and researched upon.
The adult male Wistar rats were divided into six groups of five rats each. Group 1 served as the control and received only distilled water. Group 2 received aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca peels at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight. Group 3 received the aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca peels at dose of 500 mg/kg body weight; Group 4 received Cadmium-Chloride only at a dose of 20mg/kg CdCl2.
Groups 5 and 6 were given CdCl2 with their respective doses of aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca peels at doses of 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg. All these lasted for a duration of fifty-six (56) days after which the rats were sacrificed, and the testes were removed for histological analysis.
The results showed that the administration of Cadmium-Chloride significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the levels of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalases in the testes, as well as significantly (p < 0.05) increased the levels of malondialdehyde and cadmium chloride in the testes. The administration of the aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca peels significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the effects of cadmium chloride on the levels of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the testes, as well as significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the levels of malondialdehyde and cadmium in the testes .
Histological examination of the testes showed that the administration of cadmium-chloride caused testicular damage, characterized by the degeneration of the seminiferous tubules and the reduction in the number of germinal cells. The administration of the aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca peels significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the testicular damage caused by cadmium-chloride.
