The effects of oral administration of Carica papaya seeds extract on the morphology of pituitary, testes and sex accessory glands were studied. The C. papaya extract (50 and 200 mg/kg/day) was administered orally to sexually mature male Wistar rats for 1 and 8 weeks, respectively. The control group received corn oil (vehicle) only. The animals were killed after 1 and 8 weeks treatment for histological preparation. The microscopic examination of the sections of pituitary gonadotrophs (FSH and LH cells) treated with 200 mg/kg of C. papaya extract showed pronounced hypertrophy, while section of rats treated with 50 mg/kg showed mild hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Whereas the testes of rats treated with C. papaya extract at 50 and 200 mg/kg revealed gradual degeneration of germ cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells as well as germinal epithelium. However, tubules of epididymes of rats treated with extract, 200 mg/kg, appeared empty indicating the degeneration of sperm cells in the lumina. The sections of prostate glands of rats treated with 200 mg/kg extract showed coagulation of secretion in the lumina as well as empty tubules with cell debris, while the effect was reduced in rats treated with 50 mg/kg. The seminal vesicles showed progressive collapse and shrinkage of villi. These results suggest that C. papaya extract interfered with the pituitary - gonadal axis to influence male reproductive functions, which confirmed its antifertility property as reported previously.

Preliminary studies on the antifertility effect of pawpaw seeds (Carica papaya) on the gonads of male albino (Wistar) rats was investigated. An oral dose of crude ripe pawpaw seeds at 100 mg/kg body weight and 50 mg/kg body weight were administered orally for 8 weeks. Histological observations at a high dose of 100 mg/kg body weight showed degeneration of the germinal epithelium and germ cells, a reduction in the number of Leydig cells and the presence of vacuoles in the tubules. At a low dose of 50 mg/kg body weight little effect was observed. However, there was disorganization in some of the seminiferous tubules while others appeared normal. Leydig cells also appeared normal compared with the controls. At a high dose the epididymis showed many empty tubules containing degenerated spermatozoa and cell debris in the lumen. The epithelium appeared normal compared with the controls. At a low dose a milder effect was observed. The epithelial tissue appeared normal. A possible mechanism of action is discusssed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Activity of Carica papaya. Linn. (commonly known as paw-paw.) seed extract in liver physiology of albino (Wistar) rats was studied. The MeOH extract of C. papaya. seeds were Soxhlet extracted. Tolerated doses of C. papaya. were estimated in acute toxicity studies and administered orally, single or repeated doses, for 30 days to adult male rats weighing between 190 and 200 g, which were divided into four groups of five rats per group. Group 1 received 10 mg/kg; group 2 received 50 mg/kg; group 3 received 200 mg/kg; group 4 received normal saline (1 ml/rat) as control. Twenty-four hours after treatments, the animals of all groups were sacrificed and blood samples collected by heart puncture into centrifugal tubes. The blood samples were allowed to coagulate before centrifuged at 400 rpm at 4°C for 15 min to separate the serum for enzyme assays. A portion of liver was cut off and fixed in 10% normal saline. The result showed that C. papaya. seed extract treatments caused elevation of rat serum levels of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate amino transferase (AST). Also revealed was mild to severe metaplasia of hepatocytes in a dose-related manner as well as proliferation of Kupfer cells and hepatic cells cirrhosis. These biochemical and pathological changes indicated liver cell damage and malfunction. These results, therefore, suggest that seeds of C. papaya. should be used in herbal medicine with care to avoid toxicity.

Summary:The comparative effects of chronic (28 days) consumption of kola nut and its active constituent, caffeine diets on locomotor behaviour and body weights in mice were investigated. 30 adult Swiss white mice (15-30g body weight), were used for the study. The open field-maze was employed for the evaluation of locomotor behaviour. Mice in the control group (n = 10) were fed normal rodent chow, mice in the kola nut-fed group (n = 10) were fed kola diet (25% wt/wt of rodent chow) while those in the caffeine-fed group (n = 10) were fed caffeine diet (0.66% wt/wt of rodent chow) for 4 weeks. All animals were allowed free access to clean drinking water. Daily food intake, water intake and body weight change were also measured. Daily food intake in the kola nut and caffeine-fed group of mice was significantly (P<0.001 respectively) lower than the control. There was also a significant (P<0.001) decrease in daily water intake in the caffeine-fed group compared to the control whereas, the apparent decrease of water intake in the kola nut-fed group was not significantly different from the control. Body weight change was also significantly (P<0.001 and P<0.05 respectively) lower in the kola nut and caffeine-fed groups of mice when compared to the control. The frequency of rearing in the open field was significantly (P<0.01) lower in the caffeine-fed group of mice when compared to the control. The frequency of grooming was also significantly (P<0.05) lower in the caffeine-fed group of mice when compared to the control. There was also a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the frequency of light-dark transitions in the light/dark transition box for the caffeine-fed group when compared to the control. The results showed that chronic consumption of kola nut and caffeine diets caused decrease in food intake and body weight. Consumption of caffeine-diet also significantly decreased water intake and locomotor activity. The effect of kola nut-diets on water intake and locomotor activity was not significant. Hence, the effect of kola nut on locomotor behaviour and water intake may not be due to caffeine only.

The effects of ethanol extract of Spondias mombin leaf on male rats' fertility were investigated. The extract was orally administered with 250 and 500mg/kg doses for 8 weeks. There was significant decrease in testicular and epididymal weight in the treated animals compared to the control. Histomorphology of the testis showed distortion in the arrangement of seminiferous tubules, loose germinal epithelium, low number of germ cells and Sertoli cells. Tubular sizes of epididymis were reduced with vacuolation and decreased sperm. The serum level of testosterone was significantly decreased (p<0.05) at 500mg/kg compared to control. We conclude that Spondias mombin leaf extract can suppress the process of spermatogenesis which can lead to infertility in laboratory animals.

The effect of Mucuna urens (seeds) on the gonads and sex accessory glands of male guinea-pigs was investigated. Sexually mature guinea-pigs of proven fertility were administered orally with 70 mg/kg and 140 mg/kg body weight of crude extract daily for 8 weeks respectively. Phytochemical screening of the seeds revealed the presence of alkaloids. No death or weight loss were observed during the duration of treatment. No pregnancy occurred in females mated with the treated males. Histological observations at high dose (140 mg/kg) showed complete degeneration of sperm in the testicular tubules. In some tubules, the acrosomal cap of the sperm cells was separated from the nuclei which underwent colour changes. In some tubules only the tails were left in the lumen. The spermatids, primary and secondary spermatocytes showed pycnosis while the morphology of spermatogonia and germinal epithelium appeared normal. Some epididymides were devoid of sperm while others contained degenerated spermatozoa and cell debris. In the prostate gland there was collapse of the villi and reduction of secretion in both the prostate and seminal vesicles. At low doses (70 mg/kg), there was spermatogenic arrest at spermatid stage. These observations have shown that M. urens is a potential male antifertility agent.