Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) on sperm cell morphology and reproductive hormonal profiles in cypermethrin-induced male infertility

Abstract

Phone: +234 7 04343 3344 37 38 39 2 40 Abstract 41 Date fruits are endowed with medicinal values, including boosting the male fertility status, but with 42 meagre empirical evidence. Thus, the current study was designed to assess the ameliorative and 43 potential adverse effects of date fruit extracts (Phoenix dactylifera) on cypermethrin-induced male 44 infertility. The study was conducted in two phases using adult male Wistar rats (n = 42, 180 -220 45 g and aged 14 -16 weeks). The first phase was a single oral dose toxicity study to ascertain the 46 suitability of date fruit extract and cypermethrin administered at 250 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg, 47 respectively. The second phase, which included four treatment groups of six animals per group, 48 assessed the effects of date fruits on cypermethrin-induced infertility. At the termination of the 49 experiment, semen was collected by epididymal extraction for the assessment of sperm 50 abnormalities, motility, mass activity, semen pH, and percentage live. Serum samples were also 51 collected for testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) profiling, and the collected data 52 was subjected to statistical analysis. The group administered only cypermethrin showed a decrease 53 in percentage motility, live, mass activity and an increase in total abnormalities over the control 54 group while the group exposed to only date fruits extracts showed increased percentage motility, 55 live, mass activity and a decrease in total abnormalities over the control. The results of a combined 56 administration of date fruit extracts and cypermethrin on a separate group showed a consistently 57 reduced percentage of anatomically abnormal sperm cells and a general improvement of sperm 58 motility and mass activity. There was no significant difference in the weight of the Wister rats in all 59 the groups (p > 0.05). However, testosterone and FSH levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) 60 by date fruit extract treatment. The current report provides evidence of the potential ameliorative 61 effects of date fruit extracts in cypermethrin-induced male infertility and cautions excessive use or 62 abuse since some adverse effects were observed. 3 63 Key Words: Semen, Testosterone, FSH, date fruit, Cypermethrin, Infertility 64 65 1.0. Introduction 66 Cypermethrin is a neurotoxic synthetic pyrethroid that is commonly used as a synergist to increase 67 the potency of insecticides on pests [1]. Sequel to a recommendation by the World Health 68 Organisation (WHO), the use of the chemical has become popular for the effective treatment of 69 mosquitoes in Asia and Africa [2], where malaria is epidemic [3]. However, studies have reported 70 cases of acquired infertility following exposure of cypermethrin to animals [4 -8]. The lethal dose 71 (LD 50 ) of cypermethrin in rats following oral administration is 251 mg/kg of body weight [9], but 72 periodic subacute doses over prolonged periods result in chronic genotoxic effects including a 73 significant reduction in the relative weights of the teste...

Date Fruit and Seed in Nutricosmetics

“…These compounds can strengthen bones, promote uterine contractions in pregnant women during childbirth, and prevent anemia [15]. Additionally, Ajwa and other date varieties can prevent cancer, cardiac arrest, and neuron damage, and can also increase fertility [5,16]. The cosmetics industry has been one of the fastest growing industries and is flourishing globally.…”