Bulletins of Natural and Applied Sciences
Vol. 2(1):38-52
Ameliorative Efficacies of Selected Polyphenols on Menadione-Induced Testicular Dysfunction in Wister Rats
Azeemat Titilola Abdulazeez1, Medinat Bisola Lambe2, Oluwayemisi Beatrice Ibitoye1, Muinat Olayinka Lambe3 and Kamaldeen Sanni Ibrahim1; 1Department of Biological Sciences, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Nigeria; 2Functional
ABSTRACT
Infertility is the most prevalent reproductive problem affecting 10-15% of young couples. Evidences suggest injuries to the testes by reactive oxygen species as a result of drugs. This study investigated the ameliorative effects of selected polyphenols (gallic, betulinic and protocatechuic acids) on menadione-induced testicular dysfunction in rats. Thirty (30) male rats were randomly selected into six groups of five rats each. Group A were fed with normal feed and distilled water, while the remaining were given 10 mg/kg body weight of menadione intraperitoneally for 7 days to induce testicular dysfunction. Thereafter, Group B was given distilled water, while Group C was given 10 mg/kg of addyzoa (reference drug) and Groups D, E, and F were treated with 50 mg/kg of betulinic, gallic and protocatechuic acids respectively for 7 days. Menadione significantly (P≤0.05) reduced serum concentrations of Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), Leutenizing hormone (LH), testosterone, testicular cholesterol and sialic acid. The specific activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were all significantly reduced in the untreated group. In contrast, there was a significant rise in malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl concentrations. Whereas, the polyphenolic compounds, significantly (P≤0.05) increased the serum concentrations of FSH, LH, testosterone, testicular cholesterol and sialic acid levels, with a significant decline in malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl concentrations and a significant rise in the specific activities of antioxidant enzymes. Conclusively, gallic and betulinic acids were more effective than the protocatechuic acid in the reversal of testicular dysfunction induced by menadione.
