Fleurya Aestuans Leaves and Tetrahydroxyflavone Mitigate Lead Induced Testicular Toxicity in Wistar Rats
Charles C. Nwafor *
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Madonna University, PMB 48, Elele, Nigeria.
Ifedi I. Charles
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Nigeria.
Ekikereabasi P. Inyang
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Madonna University, PMB 48, Elele, Nigeria.
Solomon M. Uvoh
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Okache B. Ogwihi
Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Madonna University, PMB 48, Elele, Nigeria.
Alagha B. Ebiyemzi
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The effects of Fleurya aestuans leaves and tetrahydroxyflavone on the reproductive functions of lead acetate induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats was investigated in this study. The study animals were divided into control group (A) and toxicity-induced groups (B, C, D, E, F, and G). To determine all particulate parameters under inquiry, the study used established procedures. Histological and tissue biochemical studies were performed on the testes and caudal epididymis. The most active compound in the extract was found to be tetrahydroxyflavone, and treatment of the extract resulted in a significant (P<0.05) improvements in male mating behaviors, conceptive hormones, sperm parameters, and testicular biochemical parameters. The frequency of mount, intromission and ejaculation rose significantly (P<0.05), but the latencies of mount, intromission, and ejaculation, decreased. Similarly, the treatment of the extract with tetrahydroxyflavone reversed the harmful effects of lead acetic acid on various organ systems in the research animals, such as the epididymis and testes. As a result, the study recommends that Fleurya aestuans leaves be used to treat reproductive problems. The dose in human being experiment may be beneficial to patients with reproductive problems.
Keywords: Fleurya aestuans, tetrahydroxyflavone, testicular toxicity, reproductive dysfunctions.