Pre-clinical study on hypo-testicular activity of hydro-ethanol (60:40) extract of Areca catechu (L.) in albino rat: Dose-dependent response

Abstract

The study focused to assess the dose-dependent hypo-testicular activity of hydro-ethanol seed extract of Areca catechu (10, 20 and 40 mg/ 100 g body weight) in albino rats. For this purpose, body weight, reproductive organo-somatic indices, as well as motility, count, hypo-osmotic swelling and acrosomal cap status of sperm along with the quantity of testicular androgenic key enzyme activities, serum testosterone, oxidative stress sensors, seminal vesicular fructose (SVF), apoptosis linked gene expression study and histology of testicular tissue for spermatokinetics were covered here. All the said doses revealed a significant (p<0.05) downward deviation in spermiological profile, serum testosterone, SVF levels, activities of testicular ∆5,3β and 17β-HSD, seminiferous tubular diameter compared to the vehicle-treated control (VTC). In contrast to the VTC, activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase were decreased along with elevation in the levels of thio-barbituric acid reactive substances significantly (p<0.05) in testis and sperm pellet of extract-treated groups. Testicular pro-apoptotic Bax gene expression was elevated and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene expression was diminished significantly (p<0.05) after extract treatment compared to the VTC. Non-significant changes (p>0.05) were noted in hepatic acid and alkaline phosphatase activities which focused the non-toxic characteristics of said extract in general. This study interpreted that, 40 mg showed drastic hypo-testicular efficacy cum necrotic changes compared to other doses though the therapeutic dose that cross the borderline of fertile sensors from spermiological indicators is 20 mg dose. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the said extract showed that ten phyto-molecules belong to flavonoid, alkaloid and isoflavone groups mainly.