THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF ANNONA MURICATA LEAF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT IN MITIGATING ARSENIC-INDUCED TESTICULAR DYSFUNCTION, OXIDATIVE STRESS, AND REPRODUCTIVE IMPAIRMENT IN MALE WISTAR RATS.

Abstract

Background: Arsenic is a pervasive environmental toxicant that poses serious health risks to both humans and animals. Chronic exposure to arsenic has been associated with oxidative stress-mediated damage in several organs, particularly the testes, resulting in impaired steroidogenesis, defective spermatogenesis, and reduced fertility. The search for effective natural therapeutic agents capable of attenuating arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity has intensified due to the limitations associated with conventional interventions.

Objective: This study investigated the protective effects of ethanolic leaf extract of Annona muricata against arsenic-induced testicular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and reproductive impairment in adult male Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five experimental groups (n = 6). Animals received either distilled water, arsenic alone, Annona muricata extract alone, or arsenic combined with two different doses of the extract (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) for twenty-one consecutive days. Oxidative stress biomarkers, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA), were assessed. Serum testosterone concentration, sperm characteristics, and histopathological changes in testicular tissues were also evaluated.

Results: Arsenic exposure significantly disrupted testicular redox homeostasis, as evidenced by elevated MDA levels and marked reductions in SOD, CAT, and GSH activities. Furthermore, arsenic administration resulted in decreased serum testosterone concentration, impaired sperm quality, and extensive histological damage characterized by seminiferous tubular degeneration, germ-cell depletion, and spermatogenic arrest. Treatment with Annona muricata extract significantly ameliorated these alterations in a dose-dependent manner. Rats receiving 400 mg/kg of the extract exhibited substantial restoration of antioxidant status, improved testosterone production, enhanced sperm characteristics, and near-normal testicular histoarchitecture.

Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that Annona muricata leaf ethanolic extract effectively attenuates arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity through modulation of oxidative stress and preservation of testicular integrity. These results support the potential application of Annona muricata as a phytotherapeutic candidate for the management of environmentally induced male reproductive disorders. Further molecular investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action.