Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)
Volume 7, No. 2, 2025
Pages 343-353
DOI: 10.36108/jvbs/5202.70.0270
Testicular anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity and the Reproductive enhancing potentials of ethanol extract of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) leave in male Wistar rats.
Sunday Augustine Ejeha1, Hyacinth Adakole Abub2 and Samson Eneojo Abalakac3
1Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
2Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, Nigeria.
3Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Testicular inflammation and oxidative stress have contributed immensely to altering sperm qualities and played major roles in the pathophysiology of idiopathic male infertility. The use of herbal medicine in ameliorating inflammation and oxidative stress-induced damage to testicular tissues has continued to attract attention. Alchornea cordifolia has been hypothesized to possess fertility-enhancing properties. This study investigated the effects of ethanol leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia (ELEAC) on testicular pro-inflammatory ytokines, (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, TNF, and IFN-γ, oxidative stress markers (MDA), ntioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GPx), and male reproductive parameters. This study demonstrated a significant (p<0.05) reduction in testicular IL-1β at 200 and 400 mg/kg of ELEAC exposed groups compared to the control group. Oxidative stress marker, i.e. testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in the 200 mg/kg extract exposed group compared with the control. Testicular Superoxide dismutase (SOD), was significantly (p<0.001) reduced in all treated exposed groups compared with control while Catalase (CAT) and testicular Glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in 200 mg/kg treated group compared with the control. Catalase, Glutathione, and Glutathione peroxidase activities were reduced at 400 and 800 mg/kg, however, these were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Analysis of male hormones revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in luteinizing hormone and a reduction in serum testosterone level significantly (p<0.05). There was no significant (p>0.05) changes in the values of sperm parameters analyzed in this study. In conclusion, ethanol leaf extract of Alchornea cordifolia possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that could be harnessed to enhancing male fertility by protecting sperm cells from damage caused by free radicals and inflammatory mediators in both acute and chronic inflammatory and oxidative stress-induced disease conditions.
Keywords: Antioxidants, Alchornea cordifolia, Cytokines, Inflammation, Oxidative stress, Sperm parameters,