Effect of Vigna angularis Seed Extract on Cadmium-Induced Toxicity in Rat Testes

Abstract

Cadmium, an established environmental toxin is also known to be toxic to the testes. This study investigated the effect of V. angularis on cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in rat. The animals were administered with cadmium chloride (4 mg/kg bwt.) in normal saline, subcutaneously while administration of aqueous extract of V. angularis which commenced 24 hours post-cadmium administration was done daily by gavage.  Cadmium caused a significant (p< 0.05) reduction in Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity and a significant  (p< 0.05) increase in catalase activity and malondialdehyde levels in rat testes relative to the control. The administration of V. angularis (300 mg/kg bwt.) resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in SOD activity compared to the cadmium-only treatment group. Cadmium also significantly (P< 0.05) increased testes and prostate cholesterol levels, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels relative to the control. However, treatment with V. angularis at 300 and 450 mg/kg bwt reduced serum LH and FSH levels when compared with the cadmium-only group. All the V. angularis treated groups showed significant (P< 0.05) decrease in  prostate cholesterol concentration and increase in testes cholesterol levels relative to the cadmium-only treated group. Sperm count was also significantly (p< 0.05) reduced in all the cadmium-treated groups relative to the control. These results show that the aqueous extract of V. angularis was unable to effectively remove the toxic effect of cadmium on the testes of rats within the 12 day treatment period used in this study.