Pre-clinical Study of Hydro-ethanol (60:40) Extract of Areca catechu (L.) on Testicular Androgenesis in Albino Rat: An Approach for Herbal Male Contraceptive Development
Sukriti Hazra, Dibya Pal, Tanusree Mondal, Shibani Das, Debidas Ghosh
The present study was designed to determine the anti-testicular activity of hydro-ethanol seed extract of Areca catechu (10, 20 and 40 mg) in a dose-dependent fashion in albino rats. Seminal vesicular fructose (SVF), oxidative stress sensors, gene expression, somatic weight, reproductive organo-somatic indices, spermiological, hormonal profile, and testicular histological examination for qualitative and quantitative investigations of spermatogenesis were observed. In compared to the placebo-treated control (PTC), the exposure of the said doses showed a statistically significant downward deviation in the spermiological, hormonal, SVF profile, the kinetics of testicular key androgenic dehydrogenase enzymes, and diameters of seminiferous tubules. Antioxidant enzyme kinetics were reduced significantly against PTC, and the quantity of malondialdehyde in male gonad and sperm precipitate was elevated in a significant level (p < 0.05). Expression of the apoptotic promoting gene in testis was increased (p < 0.05) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene expression exhibited a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the treated group compared to the PTC. The alterations in the activities of phosphatases in hepatic tissue were not significant from the background of PTC, suggesting that the plant has no systematic undesirable effect in physiological processes. The observation highlighted that 10 mg dose as the threshold dose for imposition of such anti- testicular activity leading to male contraception.