METHANOL EXTRACT OF SQUIRREL NUT (CURCULIGO PILOSA) AMELIORATED SOY ISOFLAVONE-INDUCED REPRODUCTIVE CHANGES OF ADULT MALE WISTAR RATS
The study evaluated parturition rate, pup weight and litter sizes of pups sired by adult male Wistar rats treated with methanol extract of Curculigo pilosa (CP) rhizome and/or soy isoflavones (ISF), as well as the histological changes of testis of the treated rats. Thirty-two adult male rats were divided into 4 groups (I to IV) comprising of 8 rats each (n = 8). Group I (control) received 1% carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC). Groups II and III were administered 1000 mg/kg CP and 100 mg/kg ISF, respectively, while group IV received combination of CP + ISF by oral gavage for 54 days. On day 55, four male rats from each group were sacrificed to harvest testis for histological studies using Haematoxylin and Eosin, and examined under light microscope at x 400 magnification. The remaining 4 males were each paired with 4 untreated female rats each for further reproductive studies. All male rats were removed from the groups after 21 days of pairing. Pregnancy was detected using physical examination. Number of pups/litter and weights were taken and recorded within 24 hours for each parturition. Parturition rate was 100% in the control group (1% CMC), 75% in the 1000 mg/kg CP and the CP + ISF treated groups, and 25% in the 100 mg/Kg ISF 54 days post treatment. Treatment for 54 days with 1000 mg/kg CP recorded the highest significant average pup body weight (P < 0.05; 7.950 ± 0.11 g) followed by CP + ISF (IV; 6.471 ± 0.11 g), then 100 mg/kg CP (III; 6.057 ± 0.20 g), and lastly the control group (I; 5.689 ± 0.06 g). Administration of 100 mg/kg ISF for 54 days caused moderate to severe histological changes in the testes of treated rats in the form of seminiferous tubular atrophy, disorganized germ cell layers with severe vacuolations. The germ cell layers were normally arranged and the spermatozoa, the Leydig cells within the interstitial spaces, and the associated blood vessels ware also normally arranged in the CP and CP+ISF-treated groups. This study demonstrated the beneficial pro-fertility and antioxidant effects of methanolic extract of C. pilosa administered at 1000 mg/kg/day, or its ameliorative benefit when co-administered with 100 mg/kg ISF. The administration of 100 mg/kg of soy isoflavones exerted deleterious pro-oxidant effects on the reproduction of adult male Wistar rats.
Keywords: Curculigo pilosa, Histoarchitecture, Male Wistar rats, Parturition rate, Soy isoflavone, Testis
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