EFFECTS OF ADMINISTRATION OF ETHANOL LEAF EXTRACTS OF JATROPHA CURCAS AND ASCORBIC ACID ON MALE REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTIONS IN ALLOXAN INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. Diabetes mellitus has been substantiated to have adverse effects on male reproductive function and its impacts can be seen in increased prevalence of male infertility. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the hypoglycaemic, antioxidant and androgenic properties of Jatrophas curcas and ascorbic acid in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. In the experiment, 48 adult male wistar rats were divided into 8 groups. They were treated with ethanolic leaf extract of Jatropha curcas and ascorbic acid for 28days after induction of diabetes with alloxan monohydrate. Group I: Normal control rats, Group II: Normal rats given ethanolic leaf extract of Jatropha curcas(500mg/kg/day), Group III:Normal rats given ascorbic acid(250mg/kg/d), Group IV: Normal rats given Jatropha curcas(500mg/kg/day) + ascorbic acid (250mg/kg/day), Group V: Diabetic rats untreated, then Groups VI, VII and VIII were diabetic rats treated with Jatropha curcas only, ascorbic acid only and coadministration of both Jatropha curcas + ascorbic acid respectively. Results of the experiment showed significant reduction in serum glucose levels, increased level of testicular antioxidant enzymes, increased serum level of testosterone, improved sperm counts, motility, and normal sperm morphology in groups separately treated with Jatropha curcas and ascorbic acid compared to diabetic untreated group. There was significant reduction in sperm quality of groups treated with co-administration of Jatropha curcas and ascorbic acid compared to when used separately. The findings demonstrated that ethanolic leaf extracts of Jatropha curcas could trigger profertility properties in male diabetic rats, due to their potent hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects, however co-administration of Jatropha curcas and ascorbic acid could be deleterious to male reproductive functions.