Effects of Garcinia hydroxybiflavanonol-1 (GB1) isolated from Garcinia kola Heckel (Guttiferae) seeds on reproductive toxicity induced with cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in male Wistar rats

ABSTRACT

To examine the effects of Garcinia hydroxybiflavanonol-1 (GB1) isolated from seeds of Garcinia kola Heckel (Guttiferae) on reproductive toxicity induced with cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) in male Wistar rats. Rats were randomly assigned to Groups 1 to 3 (n = 12) as follows; A: control, B: CdCl₂ only group, C: CdCl2+GB1. Cadmium toxicity was induced by including 2.5 mg/kg of CdCl₂ into the rats’ drinking water and GB1 was dissolved in 0.5 % Tween20 and administered per os daily for 90 days. Four (4) animals from each group was humanely euthanized every 30 days. The testes were exteriorized and sperm cells collected from the caudal epididymis for analysis and histology.The result showed accumulation of Cadmium (Cd) in the testes of Wistar rats and a significant decrease (p< 0.05) in sperm count and sperm motility in Group B compared to Groups A and C. There was also a significant increase (p< 0.05) in immotile sperm count, headless sperm count and sluggish sperm count in Group B. Histology results revealed that CdCl₂ significantly reduced the volume of spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules and resulted in reduced spermatogenesis observed, in reduced number of sperm counts and histology. Amelioration with GB1 restored the testicles to normal spermatogenic activities after 90 days of treatment.

Keywords: Garcinia kola seeds, Garcinia hydroxybiflavanonol-1 (GB1), cadmium chloride (CdCl₂), toxicity, Wistar rats, male reproduction.

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