Protective and Ameliorating Effects of Methanolic Seed Extract of Mucuna Pruriens on Paraquat Induced Testicular Damage

Abstract

Paraquat has been known to induce damage to the testes and ovaries in different animals. This study evaluated the protective and ameliorating effects of methanolic seed extract of Mucuna pruriens (MSEMP) on paraquat induced testicular damage. Healthy adult male Albino Wistar rats received paraquat alone, or paraquat and MSEMP together. All substrates were administered orally. Results obtained showed that mean epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were reduced (p<0.05), in addition to alterations in sperm morphologies in all rats that received paraquat alone in a duration dependent manner. However, all parameters were improved in groups treated with paraquat and MSEMP together. Histological investigations of the testes revealed necrotic testicular tissue, with testicular atrophy, loss of sperm bundles and scanty spermatocytes in all rats that received paraquat alone. However, Co- and post-treatment of the animals with MSEMP following oral administration of paraquat showed protective and ameliorative characteristics. One of the possible mechanisms that could be attributed to this observation would be the action of L-Dopa present in Mucuna pruriens, although complete mechanism of action of these effects is not yet clear and calls for further investigation.

Keywords: Testosterone, Sperm count, L-Dopa.