Protective Role of Onion (Allium cepa L.) on Caffeine Induced Spermatotoxicity in Albino Rats
U. B. Ekaluo *
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
U. U. Uno
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria and Department of Biology, Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa, Nigeria.
N. E. Edu
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
P. B. Ekpo
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
S. E. Etta
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
B. O. Volunteer
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Onion is widely consumed and is used for several medicinal and therapeutic purposes such as management of diabetes and also as antimutagenic, antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Hence, this study investigated the protective role of onion on caffeine induced spermatotoxicity in albino rats as mammalian model. Thirty healthy male albino rats of 12 weeks old were divided into five groups with six rats in each group using a completely randomized design (CRD). The daily caffeine and onion juice treatments were administered orally via oral gavage for sixty five days. Result obtained indicated a significant (P<0.05) reduction in the weight of epididymes, sperm viability, sperm motility and sperm count while sperm head abnormality increased in caffeine-treated animals. No significant differences were observed in semen pH and weight of testes. Onion juice protected mammalian model from caffeine induced toxicities on the weight of testes, sperm viability, sperm motility, sperm count and sperm head abnormality. These results show that onion is effective in protecting albino rat models against caffeine induced spermatotoxicity in a dose dependent manner.
Keywords: Onion, caffeine, toxicity, sperm quality, sperm count, sperm head abnormality