European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EFFECT OF COSTUS AFER ON FERTILITY PARAMETERS IN CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE-INDUCED REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY IN MALE ALBINO RATS.

Arhoghro E. M.* and Sule O. J.

ABSTRACT

CP is an anticancer and immunosuppressive agent commonly used in men of reproductive age. This study was aimed at determining the effect of the ethanolic extract of Costus afer on the reproductive system of rats treated with CP. The Twenty rats used for the experiment were of albino strain, and were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group one (control) received 2ml/kg body weight of distilled water, group two were given CP at a dose of 6mg/kg, while group 3 (50mg/kg) and group 4 (100mg/kg) of ethanolic extract of Costus afer and CP one hour after extract administration once daily for 21days The CP treated group showed significant decrease in the body and organ weights and spermatogenic activities as well as many histological alterations. CP treatment also caused significant decrease in sperm count and motility with an increase in dead and abnormal sperms. Moreover significant decrease in serum levels of testosterone and increased concentrations of FSH and LH. Also Significant decrease in SOD and GPx activities and increase MDA level were observed in CP-treated rats, while co administration of C.afer caused a significant increase in SOD and GPx activities and decrease MDA level (P<0.05). Notably, C.afer co-administration minimized the effect in the above-mentioned parameters. These findings indicated that C.afer is protective against CP-induced reproductive toxicity.

Keywords: Costus afer biochemical parameters, reproductive toxicity, spermatogenic activities.