Abstract

ETHANOLIC ROOT EXTRACTS OF RAUWOLFIA VOMITORIA AMELIORATES REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY AND OXIDATIVE STRESS INDUCED BY ALUMINIUM CHLORIDE IN RATS.

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

ABSTRACT

Aluminum chloride is a toxic and most widely distributed metal on earth, Rauwolfia vomitoria an herbal medicine is used for the treatment of many diseases like infertility. Therefore this study is aimed at elucidating the protective effect of Rauwolfia vomitoria against infertility caused by aluminum chloride in male albino rats. The first group served as negative control and received distilled water and standard feed. Group two served as positive control and received AlCl3 (4.3mg/kg bw) and Group three received AlCl3 (4.3mg/kg bw) and Rauwolfia vomitoria (100mg/kg bw) for 21 days. SOD,CAT, GPX, GST, significantly (P <0.05) decreased while LPO significantly (P <0.05) increased in rats testis treated with AlCl3 (4.3mg/kg bw) compared to the negative control. Also SOD, CAT, GPX, GST significantly (P<0.05) increased while LPO significantly (P <0.05) decreased in rat testis treated with Rauwolfia vomitoria (100mg/kg bw) plus AlCl3 (4.3mg/kg bw) compared to the positive control. ALT and AST significantly (P <0.05) increased in rat serum treated with AlCl3 (4.3mg/kg bw) compared to the negative control and significantly (P <0.05) decreased in rat serum treated with Rauwolfia vomitoria (100mg/kg bw) plus AlCl3 (4.3mg/kg bw) compared to the positive control. The results obtained indicate that Rauwolfia vomitoria possess some antioxidant which can ameloriate reproductive damage and oxidative stress induced by aluminium chloride.

Keywords: Rauwolfia vomitoria Aluminium chloride biochemical parameters, oxidative stress.