RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The role of aqueous extract of Adansonia digitata was investigated against cadmium chloride-induced testicular damage in Wistar Rats. METHODS: Thirty (30) male Wistar Rats weighing (150-170) were divided into six groups (n=5). Group A served as control and received oral administration of phosphate buffer saline; group B received 800 mg/kg A. digitata only; group C were injected intraperitoneally with single dose 2 mg/kg b.w cadmium chloride; group D were injected intraperitoneally with single dose 2 mg/kg b.w cadmium chloride and treated with 800 mg/kg aqueous extract of A. digitata; group E received 300 mg/kg vitamin E only; group F were injected intraperitoneally with single dose 2 mg/kg b.w cadmium chloride and treated with 300 mg/kg vitamin E. After 21 days, the animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation, the testes were excised fixed in Bouins fluids for histological analysis and the other homogenized in 5% sucrose solution for determination of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzyme activity, biochemical assay. RESULTS: The group treated with cadmium chloride plus A. digitata caused significant decrease in MDA levels with significant increase (p<0.05) in antioxidant activities and biochemical enzymes when compared to cadmium chloride only group. CONCLUSIONS: Aqueous extract of A. digitata appears to have ameliorative effect against cadmium chloride-induced testicular damage. This could be attributed to the presence of polyphenolic compound.