UN-RIPED fruit pods of Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce ameliorates cisplatin theraphy induced partial testicular atrophy in MALE Wistar rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce is a plant that is widely found in dry parts of India. The unripe fruit pod has a very specific traditional claim of treating male infertility and increasing the sperm volume and count.

Aim: The present work was endeavoured to investigate the long standing traditional claim of P. cineraria on meliorating male fertility. The study focussed on cancer therapy induced male infertility and curative effect of the extract with appraisal on any possible revitalizing effects on sperm count, morphology, motility and viability combined with hormonal and histopathological investigations.

Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were used for the study. Two different doses of 400 mg/kg/d and 800 mg/kg/d of the Hydroalcoholic extract were chosen as test dose while Clomiphene (25 mg/kg/d) treatment served as standard treatment. Animals were initially injected with cisplatin at the rate of 1 mg/kg/d for 15 days and the drug treatment was begun at the 16th day and continued till 43rd day (28 days treatment). Later all male animals were cohabited with female animals in the ratio 1:3. On confirmation of mating with all female animals of the group the male animals were euthanized on batches. Testis and epididymis were weighed and homogenized. Sperm count, motility, morphology, viability and head count with plasma evaluation for FSH, LH and Testosterone were performed. On day Gestational day 15, gravid uterus observations were calculated to evaluate male and female fertility parameters.

Results: There were statistically significant improvement (p > 0.0001) in sperm motility, sperm count, sperm viability and improved morphological features. The same pace was also noticed in testosterone, FSH and LH levels in serum and LPO, CAT, GSH, GPx and SOD in testicular tissues. The extract treated male animals produced better and healthy litter compared to cisplatin treated animals with less pre and post implantation loss.

Conclusion: Consolidating the results seen, the extract ameliorated the testicular toxicity caused by cisplatin a dose dependant manner. Further insight and evaluation of the phyto-chemicals of the pods should be performed to bring up commercial viability.

Keywords: Endocrine system; Fertility; Flavonoids; Reproductive pharmacology; Steroids.