Spermatoprotective activity of the leaf extract of Psidium guajava Linn.
BACKGROUND
The leaves of Psidium guajava Linn. (guava) contain several natural antioxidants. We therefore designed the present study to evaluate the effect of ethanol extract of guava leaves on gossypol-associated sperm toxicity in Wistar rats.


METHODS
Animal groups 1, 2, and 3 (n=6 each) were treated orally with crude cottonseed oil to provide 14 mg/kg/d of free gossypol for 53 d. Besides, groups 1 and 2 rats were supplemented orally with 250 mg/kg/d and 500 mg/kg/d respectively of guava leaf extract (GLE) for the same period. Group 4 animals (control, n=6) received normal saline.


RESULTS
No significant difference (P>0.05) occurred in the sperm count of group 1 rats compared to control. In animal group 2, significant increase (P<0.05) in sperm count occurred, as opposed to group 3 animals, where this parameter decreased significantly (P<0.05). Besides, mean values of 78 %, 82 %, 30 %, and 65 % respectively were obtained for sperm motility in animal groups 1, 2, 3, and 4.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that ethanol extract of guava leaves possesses beneficial effect on gossypol-associated sperm toxicity, and may therefore enhance male fertility, possibly owing to its rich constituents of natural antioxidants.
Akinola
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Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria. woleakinola@yahoo.com
Oladosu
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OS
Dosumu
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D000818:Animals; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000494:pharmacology; D006072:Gossypol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D031647:Psidium; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006072:Gossypol