Ocimum gratissimum attenuates diabetes-induced biochemical and histomorphological gonado-alterations

Abstract

There is a nexus between diabetes mellitus (DM) and sexual dysfunction in males. Ocimum gratissimum (OG) or scent leaf is commonly used to manage DM in traditional medicine. This study investigated testicular biochemical and histological alterations in normal and type 2 DM in vivo models, following administration of ethanol leaf extract of OG compared with standard hypoglycemic drugs Galvus (vildagliptin) and GalvusMet (vildagliptin-with-metformin). Type 2 DM was induced in Wistar rats using high fat diet and streptozotocin (50 mgkg−1 body weight [bw]). Animals were assigned into 8 groups of 10 rats each. Groups 1 and 2 served as normal and diabetic controls respectively, which received 2 mL of 10% Tween 80 kg−1bw. Groups 3 and 4 (normoglycemic) received OG 122.47 and 244.94 mgkg−1bw respectively, which were also received by diabetic groups 5 and 6 in that order. Diabetic groups 7 and 8 received Galvus and GalvusMet (0.714 and 15 mgkg−1bw) respectively. Leaf extracts generally increased levels of follicle stimulating hormone of test rats when compared with controls. Testicular superoxide dismutase and glutathione concentrations of non-diabetic rats were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in comparison with diabetics. Malondialdehyde concentrations of extract-administered diabetic groups were lower than those of diabetics treated with standard drugs. Active sperm counts and motility increased in diabetic groups given drug/extract, when compared with diabetic control. Testicular histology showed severe spermatogenic cell distortions in diabetic control, which were ameliorated by drug or extract. OG extract stimulates spermatogenesis and ameliorates germinal epithelial distortions caused by DM.

Keywords

• Ocimum gratissimum
• Metformin
• Vildagliptin
• Gonado-toxicity
• Seminal analysis