Résumé
Aims: This study was designed to evaluate the male reproductive toxicity that may accompany treatment of hypertension in Wistar rats with methanol extracts of whole fruit of Lagenaria breviflora Roberty or corm of Xanthosoma sagittifolium Schott. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Animal House of the Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology between November, 2016 and January, 2017. Methodology: Antihypertensive study was carried out in 40 adult male Wistar rats equally and randomly distributed into 8 groups. First group was normotensive rats administered with distilled water, while hypertension was induced in groups 2-7 intraperitoneal administration of DOCA-salt twice weekly and daily inclusion of 1% sodium chloride in drinking water. Group 2 was hypertensive but untreated rats. Two hypertensive groups were administered with Lisinopril (5 mg/70 kg) or Hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg/70 kg). Two hypertensive groups were assigned to each extract and these rats were administered with the extracts at doses of 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight. The rats were treated per os for 5 weeks and sacrificed at the end of this period. The testes were harvested and semen samples were obtained from the left cauda epididymis. Semen analysis were carried out to determine sperm morphology and characteristics. Results: Result showed 1 primary and 7 secondary sperm abnormality types were observed with a non-significant (p>0.05) increase in total abnormal sperm cells. Live/dead ratio and sperm volume were unchanged but, sperm motility and count were significantly (p<0.05) reduced. Conclusion: It was inferred from the study that hypertension in itself induced infertility and also treatment of the medical condition with the extracts of L. breviflora or X. sagittifolium did not reverse the infertility. Therefore, caution should be exercised when treating hypertension with these medicinal plants, particularly in male animals used for breeding.
Résumé
Aim: The toxicity profile of management of hypertension in Wistar rats with the methanol extracts of the whole fruit of Lagenaria breviflora Roberty or corms of Xanthosoma sagittifolium was assessed in this study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Animal House of the Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, between November, 2016 and January, 2017. Methodology: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups (n=5). Group 1 served as the control and was administered with distilled water. Hypertension was induced in groups 2-8 by intraperitoneal administration of DOCA-salt twice weekly and daily inclusion of 1% sodium chloride in drinking water. Group 2 (hypertensive but untreated), groups 3 and 4 (lisinopril or hydrochlorothiazide), groups 5 and 6 (L. breviflora at doses of 100 or 200 mg/kg), and groups 7 and 8 (X. sagittifolium at doses of 100 or 200 mg/kg). Urine samples (over 24 hours) and blood samples were collected for urinalysis, hematology and serum biochemistry respectively. Results: Management of hypertension with the extracts of L. breviflora or X. sagittifolium showed that the extracts did not further progress the haematological and metabolic derangement associated with hypertension. L. breviflora showed non-significant haematopoietic and immunomodulatory effects, while the extract of X. sagittifolium reversed renal damage caused by hypertension. Both extracts showed potent hypocholesterolemic effects and the atherogenic index of plasma of rats treated with the extracts also improved, indicating reduction of risks of development of coronary arterial disease or heart disease (CAD or CHD). Conclusion: Management of hypertension with fruit of Lagenaria breviflora or corm of Xanthosoma sagittifolium is safe and the haematological and metabolic derangement associated with hypertension will not further deteriorate but will rather improve.
Résumé
Objective: To evaluate the total phenolic, flavonoid contents and in vitro antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Xanthosoma sagittifolium corm. Methods: Total phenolic content was estimated using the Folin Ciocalteu method. The flavonoid content was determined using aluminium chloride. In vitro antioxidant activities were evaluated by studying DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, superoxide radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical cation scavenging activity and reducing power capacity were determined using standard procedure. Results:Xanthosoma sagittifolium corm exhibited 0.32g100g-1 total phenolic; 0.26g100g-1 flavonoid and better scavenging activity of DPPH (78.22±0.56%), hydroxyl radical (69.11±0.21%), superoxide radical (83.27±0.08%) and ABTS radical cations(76.11±0.07%).Conclusions: The present studies confirm the methanol extracts have potential in vitro antioxidant activity.