Effect of a 60-day oral gavage of a crude alkaloid extract from Chromolaena odorata leaves on hormonal and spermatogenic indices of male rats.
The present study was aimed at investigating the effects of the crude  alkaloids isolated from Chromolaena odorata leaves on the hormonal  and spermatogenic indices of male rats. The alkaloids obtained from C  odorata leaves using standard methods were administered to male rats for  60 days at the doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight. Thin-layer  chromatographic analysis of the alkaloid mixture produced 8 spots, 3 of which  were alkaloids with R(f) values of 0.41, 0.49, and 0.55 as confirmed  by the formation of orange color and creamy precipitates with both Dragendorff  and Mayer reagents, respectively. The alkaloids were represented in the  extract by a yield of 20.28 g, corresponding to a percentage yield of 90.05%  of the total extract of 22.52 g. The final body weights of both the control  and alkaloid-treated animals increased significantly (P < .05)  compared with their respective body weights before treatment. The alkaloids  significantly decreased (P < .05) the testes-body weight  ratio; the concentrations of testicular total protein, glycogen, sialic acid,  and cholesterol; and the activities of γ-glutamyl transferase, acid  phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase. The serum luteinizing hormone and  follicle-stimulating hormone levels, as well as testicular and serum  testosterone levels, also decreased significantly (P < .05). There  were decreases in the sperm count, motility, and density, as well as  morphological changes in the sperm cells. The pH and whitish-gray color of the  semen were not significantly affected. All of the doses of the alkaloids  increased the total mean number of sperm cell abnormalities, with the  secondary type predominating over the primary sperm cell abnormality. The  alterations in the levels of the hormones and secretory and synthetic  constituents of the testes and the spermatotoxic effects by the alkaloids from  C odorata leaves may be due to nonavailability or deprivation of  testosterone to the target organ. This lack of testosterone may have  consequential effects on the reproductive process of the male rat.
Departments of Respiratory Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. tomuyak@yahoo.com
Musa T
MT
Yakubu
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D036604:Chromolaena / Q000737:chemistry*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000470:Alkaloids; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone