Biology and Medicine

Abstract

The effect of ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera on alcohol-induced testicular histopathologies in pre-pubertal albino Wistar rats

Rosemary B Bassey, Danladi N Bala, Innocent A Edagha, Aniekan I Peter

Excessive use of alcoholic beverages has identified alcoholism as one of modern society’s major problems. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Moringa oleifera on alcohol-induced testicular toxicities in prepubertal Wistar rats. Forty pre-pubertal Wistar rats were divided into 10 groups. Group 1–control, Group 2–M. oleifera only, Group 3–alcohol and then M. oleifera, Group 4–alcohol and M. oleifera, Group 5–M. oleifera and then alcohol, Group 6–alcohol only, Group 7–alcohol and then vitamin C, Group 8–vitamin C and alcohol, Group 9–vitamin C and then alcohol, and Group 10–vitamin C only. Alcohol caused numerous atrophies in the testes and damaged spermatogenic cells. M. oleifera and vitamin C however exhibited protective and reversibility effects. Results showed significant effect of M. oleifera on the testicular weight without any significant difference in body weight. In conclusion, M. oleifera ameliorates alcohol-induced testicular toxicities with its antioxidant properties comparable to vitamin C.