Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Molecular Biology Reports https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-019-05033-w ORIGINAL ARTICLE Protective efects of Anthocleista djalonensis A. Chev root extracts against induced testicular infammation and impaired spermatogenesis in adult rats Chioma Y. Ezirim 1  · Sunny O. Abarikwu 1  · Augustine A. Uwakwe 1  · Chidimma J. Mgbudom‑Okah 1 Received: 28 March 2019 / Accepted: 12 August 2019 © Springer Nature B.V. 2019 Abstract This study was designed to explore the protective efects of methanol (Meth, 200 mg kg −1 body wt) and aqueous ethanol (Eth-OH, 200 mg kg −1 body wt) extracts of Anthocleista djalonensis roots on testicular infammation induced by lipopoly- saccharide (LPS, 5 mg/kg body wt) and depletion of tubular germ cells induced by busulfan (15 mg/kg body wt) in rats after 60 days of oral administration. As expected, LPS stimulation of the animals signifcantly increased serum and intra-testicular interleukin-6 and serum nitrite levels which were signifcantly inhibited in the Eth-OH + LPS and Meth + LPS animals. The increase in testicular and not serum myeloperoxidase activity that was induced by LPS treatment was synergistically increased in the Eth-OH + LPS animals, whereas it was inhibited in the Meth + LPS animals compared to LPS-treated animals. Fur- thermore, the administration of the Eth-OH or Meth extracts protected against busulfan-induced depletion of tubular germ cells and promotes the re-population of the seminiferous tubules with germ cells (spermatogonia, spermatocytes and round spermatids) at diferent stages of development. The extracts were found to contain 7′-oxaspiro [cyclopropane-1,4′-tricyclo [3.3.1.0 (6,8)] nonan-2′-one], cis,cis-7,10-hexadecadienal, hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester, hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester, and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)–) which may partly explain the observed anti- infammatory efects. In conclusion, Meth extracts of A. djanonesis have better anti-infammatory efects than the Eth-OH extract for the management of impaired testicular function due to infammation. However both extracts exhibited protective efect on the histology of the testis allowing for the recovery of spermatogenesis. Keywords Anthocleista djalonensis · Testis · Spermatogenesis · Infammation · LPS · Busulfan · Germ cells Abbreviations GC–MS Gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry MPO Myeloperoxidase NO Nitric oxide A. djalonensis Anthocleista djalonensis A. Chev LPS Lipopolysaccharide BUS Busulfan Eth-OH Aqueous ethanol Meth Methanol Introduction Spermatogenesis is a highly coordinated, multistep process involving male germ cell proliferation, meiosis and diferen- tiation into millions of cells committed to sperm production [1]. Studies have demonstrated that infection and infamma- tion of the male reproductive track are important etiologi- cal factors of male infertility [2]. Under abnormal situations associated with infection and infammation, the testis can be stimulated to release pro-infammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor. Systemic or local infection and chronic infammation may down-regulate testicular spermatogenesis and steroido- genesis [3]. This can lead to infertility and reduced semen quality and destruction of tissue architecture resulting from impairment of accessory gland functions, obstruction of sperm transport, and dysregulation of spermatogenesis [4]. Systemic or local infections can be induced experimentally in animal models by in vivo administration of bacterial * Sunny O. Abarikwu sunny.abarikwu@uniport.edu.ng; abarikwus@gmail.com 1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Nigeria