title: Tetracarpidium conophorum ameliorates oxidative reproductive toxicity induced by ethanol in male rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tetracarpidium conophorum (Mull. Arg.) Hutch. & Dalz is one of the many medicinal plants used for ages in folklore as male fertility enhancers. The current study evaluates the effect of the plant leaf extract on alcohol - induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty rats were randomly divided into six groups of five animals each; Group 1 (positive control) received normal saline only; Group 2 (ethanol alone) were given only 30 % ethanol orally at 7 ml/kg body weight per day, thrice in a week; Group 3, 4, 5 were given ethanol and co-treated with 50 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight of leaf extract respectively while Group 6 were given ethanol and co-treated with a fertility drug, clomiphene citrate. All the drugs were given daily and the experiment lasted for twenty one consecutive days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol ingestion resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in water, food intake and marked elevation of lipid peroxidation as assessed by the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the reproductive tissues. Precisely, MDA level was elevated in the testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland by 81 %, 63 %, 95 % and 91 %, respectively. Furthermore, levels of total protein, reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the reproductive tissues were significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced in ethanol-ingested rats. Interestingly, co-administration of T. conophorum with ethanol led to almost complete inhibition of lipid peroxidation thereby enhancing antioxidant status of the reproductive tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, T. conophorum ameliorates oxidative reproductive toxicity induced by ethanol in male rats and its ameliorative effect comparable well with the fertility drug, clomiphene citrate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ekiti State University, P.M.B 5363, Ado, Ekiti, Nigeria.|Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Nigeria.|Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, X1314, Alice, South Africa.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Akomolafe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Nigeria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oboh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Akindahunsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, X1314, Alice, South Africa. aafolayan@ufh.ac.za.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Afolayan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019665:Euphorbiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D001205:Ascorbic Acid