Ethyl acetate fraction of Spathodea campanulata (Bignoniaceae) attenuates lead acetate induced testicular toxicity in male Wistar rats

Abstract

Abstract Objectives The use of Spathodea campanulata in folklore medicine for the management of reproductive disorders has been poorly reported. We sought to investigate the protective potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of S. campanulata stem bark extract (EFSC) on lead acetate-induced (LA) testicular toxicity in male rats. Methods Animals during a 28 days treatment received dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 0.1%), LA (20 mg/kg), and EFSC (200 mg/kg). Others received EFSC only (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) or vitamin E (100 mg/kg) 1 h prior to LA (20 mg/kg) administration. Results LA administration decreased sperm counts and motility by 36.39 and 40.69% respectively in rats. Also, LA-untreated rats showed elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased total proteins in testis (260, 33%) and epididymis (62, 29%) respectively. However, EFSC (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) administrations improved sperm morphological characteristics as well as antioxidant status in LA-treated rats. EFSC (400 mg/kg) showed improved testis seminiferous tubules that were almost normal in the LA-treated rats. Further, EFSC contains a high 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester. Conclusions Overall, evidence by LA-induced testicular toxicity, EFSC provides chemopreventive roles via antioxidant mechanisms.