Attenuation of cadmium chloride-induced oxidative damage in the testes of adult male Wistar rats administered with extracts of Rauvolfia vomitoria and Aframomum melegueta

Abstract

Objective: Cadmium is a testicular toxicant widely distributed in organs and tissues. It reduces sperm count, motility, and antioxidant enzyme levels, leading to alterations in testicular histology. This study investigated the protective effects of methanol extracts of Aframomum melegueta and Rauvolfia vomitoria against cadmium chloride (CdCl₂)- induced testicular toxicity in adult male Wistar rats, with specific focus on histopathological alterations, Johnsen’s score, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) expression.

Method: Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats weighing an average of 200g were randomly assigned to five groups of seven rats each. The negative control was administered with distilled water, while the positive control group received 30mg/kg/BW of CdCl₂, groups 3 and 4 received 30mg/kg/BW of CdCl₂ and were treated with A. melegueta, R. vomitoria (200mg/kg/BW), respectively. Group 5 received both plant extracts. Cadmium was administered weekly for 21 days; extracts were orally administered once daily throughout the study.

Result: Histological evaluation indicated that treatment with leaf extracts of R. vomitoria or A. melegueta attenuated the CdCl₂-induced testicular toxicity, as demonstrated by a significantly higher Johnsen score compared with the CdCl_₂-exposed untreated rats. Furthermore, co-administration of both extracts resulted in greater suppression of MPO levels than treatment with either plant extract alone, indicating a superior protective effect.

Conclusion: Histological assessment of the testes in treated rats showed a mitigating effect on CdCl₂-induced testicular damage, with co-administrative treatment of both plant extracts significantly attenuating CdCl_₂-induced testicular toxicity, as evidenced by improved Johnsen’s scores and reduced testicular MPO expression levels.