International Journal of Research and Reports in Gynaecology

Therapeutic Potential of Parkia biglobosa Seed against Potassium Bromate-induced Testicular Toxicity

E. O. Ezirim

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.

C. L. Uche

Department of Haematology, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.

I. O. Abali

Department of Surgery, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.

C. E. Iwuoha

Department of Community Medicine, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria.

N. M. Chika-Igwenyi

Department of Internal Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal Univrsity Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

C. A. Onyeaghala

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers state, Nigeria.

S. F. Orji

Department of Internal Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal Univrsity Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

C. N. Ugwu

Department of Internal Medicine, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.

N. I. Ugwu

Department of Haematology and Immunology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.

C. Igwenyi

Department of Internal Medicine, Alex Ekwueme Federal Univrsity Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

A. I. Airaodion *

Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

Aim: This study was aimed at assessing the therapeutic potential of Parkia biglobosa (P. biglobosa) seed against potassium bromate-induced testicular toxicity.

Methodology: P. biglobosa was extracted with soxhlet extractor with ethanol as the solvent. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were acclimatized under laboratory conditions and were randomly grouped into A, B, C and D. Group A was given distilled water orally. Animals in groups B, C and D were administered 100 mg/kg body weight of potassium bromate, but groups C and D were also treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of P. biglobosa respectively. Both potassium bromate and P. biglobosa were freshly prepared on daily basis and administered to rats by oral gavage. After 28 days of treatment, the animals were sacrificed under mild diethyl ether anaesthetization 24 hours after cessation of last treatment. The testes were removed homogenized in the ice cold 0.25 M sucrose solution. The homogenates were centrifuged at 5000 ×g for 10 minutes in a refrigerated centrifuge. The supernatant was collected and stored frozen for further analysis. The parameters were measured using standard methods.

Results: When compared to animals in the control group, animals intoxicated with KBrO₃ had lower testicular concentrations of total cholesterol, total protein, glycogen, sialic acid, MDA, and GSH, as well as higher levels of ALP, SOD, and CAT activity. Additionally, it was shown that as compared to the animals in the control group, KBrO₃ boosted the testicular ACP's activity. However, P. biglobosa treatment of intoxicated rats reduced these alterations in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion: The results of this investigation demonstrated that potassium bromate caused testicular toxicity, and that P. biglobosa treatment counteracted this effect. Thus, it is recommended that these results be investigated in clinical trials in human volunteers.

Keywords: Parkia biglobosa, potassium bromate, testicular toxicity

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