Momordica cymbalaria improves reproductive parameters in alloxan-induced male diabetic rats

Abstract

Male reproductive dysfunction is one of the common complications of diabetes mellitus that causes infertility. This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Momordica cymbalaria (M. cymbalaria) extracts on diabetes mediated reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats. The induction of diabetes was performed using a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (120 mg/kg). Skin and seed extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg) of M. cymbalaria were orally administered to alloxan-induced diabetic male rats for 28 days. Postprandial blood glucose (PBG) levels were recorded at 7-day interval for four weeks. The effects of the treatment on blood glucose, weight of reproductive organs, sperm count, testosterone levels, antioxidant capacity, and histomorphology were evaluated. Treatment with the above extracts of M. cymbalaria significantly (p < 0.05) improved the reproductive parameters as well as the antioxidant levels superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) in the diabetic rats. Also, oral treatment with M. cymbalaria extracts significantly reduced the PBG and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Further, it revived the histomorphology of reproductive organs in diabetic rats. Interestingly, skin extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg was found to be more efficient in elevating the level of testosterone and sperm count in the diabetic rats. Based on the results, it is clear that M. cymbalaria not only regulates the postprandial blood glucose levels but also improves the reproductive health in the diabetic state.

Keywords: Anti-diabetic; Antioxidant activity; Diabetes mellitus; Male infertility; Momordica cymbalaria; Reproductive health.

Fig. 1

Effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on sperm count (a) and testosterone levels (b) in the testicular tissue of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Group 1 – Normal control; Group 2 – Diabetic control; Group 3 – Skin extract (250 mg/kg b.w.); Group 4 – Skin extract (500 mg/kg b.w.); Group 5 – Seed extract (250 mg/kg b.w.); Group 6 – Seed extract (500 mg/kg b.w.); Group 7 – Glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg). Bars represent mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). Bars with different superscripts (a–f) differ significantly from each other (p < 0.05)

Fig. 2

Effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in testicular tissue of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. a The effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), b The effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on the level of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and c The effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Group 1 – Normal control; Group 2 – Diabetic control; Group 3 – Skin extract (250 mg/kg b.w.); Group 4 – Skin extract (500 mg/kg b.w.); Group 5 – Seed extract (250 mg/kg b.w.); Group 6 – Seed extract (500 mg/kg b.w.); Group 7 – Glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg). Bars represent mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). Bars with different superscripts (a–e) differ significantly from each other (p < 0.05)

Fig. 3

Effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation in epididymal tissue of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. a The effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), b The effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on the level of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and c The effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Group 1 – Normal control; Group 2 – Diabetic control; Group 3 – Skin extract (250 mg/kg b.w.); Group 4 – Skin extract (500 mg/kg b.w.); Group 5 – Seed extract (250 mg/kg b.w.); Group 6 – Seed extract (500 mg/kg b.w.); Group 7 – Glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg). Bars represent mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). Bars with different superscripts (a–e) differ significantly from each other (p < 0.05)

Fig. 4

Effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on histological alterations (H& E staining) in the testicular tissue of experimental animals (observation under 400X magnification). Group 1 – Representative sample of testicular section showing typical testicular architecture with normally organized germ cell layers of seminiferous tubules (ST) and spermatozoa flagella (SF) in the normal control group; Group 2 – Representative sample of testicular section showing cellular debris, degeneration and disarrangement of germ cells in the diabetic control; Group 3 – Representative sample of testicular section showing complete spermatogenesis, normal cluster of interstitial cells and germ cells in the skin extract (250 mg/kg b.w.)-treated group; Group 4 – Representative sample of testicular section showing normal alignment of spermatozoa flagella (SF) intact and matured germ cells in the skin extract (500 mg/kg b.w.)-treated group; Group 5 – Representative sample of testicular section showing complete spermatogenesis and enlarged interstitial space in the seed extract (250 mg/kg b.w.)-treated group; Group 6 – Representative sample of testicular section showing intact and matured germ cells with mild disorganization in the seed extract (500 mg/kg b.w.) treated; Group 7 – Representative sample of testicular section showing normally structured germ cell layers of seminiferous tubules (ST) and spermatozoa flagella (SF) in the Glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg)-treated group. b Johnsen’s score in the testicular tissues of the experimental animals. Bars represent mean ± standard deviation (n = 6). Bars with different superscripts (a–d) differ significantly from each other (p < 0.05)

Fig. 5

a Effect of M. cymbalaria extracts on histological alterations (H& E staining) in the epididymal tissue of experimental animals (observation under 400X magnification). Group 1 – Representative sample of epididymal section showing a typical arrangement of spermatozoa (S), epithelium (E) and lumen (L) of the normal control group; Group 2 – Representative sample of epididymal section showing severe damage and inflammatory infiltrate in the diabetic control group; Group 3 – Representative sample of epididymal section showing pronounced amount of spermatozoa (S) and well-defined epithelial layer in the skin extract (250 mg/kg b.w.)-treated group; Group 4 – Representative sample of epididymal section showing great quantity of spermatozoa (S) with intact intercellular spaces in the skin extract (500 mg/kg b.w.)-treated group; Group 5 – Representative sample of epididymal section showing thick lining of epithelial cells (E) in the seed extract (250 mg/kg b.w.) treated; Group 6 – Representative sample of epididymal section showing moderate recovery with empty lumen (L) and enlarged intercellular spaces in the seed extract (500 mg/kg b.w.)-treated group; Group 7 – normal arrangement of spermatozoa (S) and epithelial cells (E) in the Glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg)-treated group