title: Spermatoprotective activity of the leaf extract of Psidium guajava Linn.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria. woleakinola@yahoo.com
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Akinola
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Oladosu
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Dosumu
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006072:Gossypol