Effects of Ethanol Extract of Stachytarpheta angustifolia (Mill.) Vahl Leaf on Lead Acetate- induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of ethanol extract of Stachytarpheta angustifolia (Mill.) Vahl leaf (EESA) on reproductive toxicity induced by lead acetate in malerats. Thirty sexually matured male Wistar rats were divided into 6 equal groups. Group I received 1 ml/kg distilled water, group II, 15 mg/kg lead acetate intraperitoneally; groups III and IV, 15 mg/kg lead acetate intraperitoneally, together with 500 and 1000 mg/kg of EESA orally respectively; groups V and VI, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of EESA orally respectively for 14 days. The results showed that lead acetate induced significant decrease in final body weight, sex organs relative weight, sperm concentration, motility and viability, serum testosterone concentration and glutathione (GSH) activity, with significant increase in sperm abnormalities. Moreover, lead acetate induced apparent alterations in the histological structure of the testis and epididymis. Treatment with EESA ameliorated the harmful effects of lead acetate, this was also proved histopathologically by the noticeable improvement in the histology of testis and epididymis. It may be concluded that EESA may be promising as a natural therapeutic agent in lead acetate-induced reproductive toxicity and oxidative stress in the male rat testes.