Poster Presentation Nutrition Society of Australia 50th Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Systemic and gonadal effects of the N-hexane and the aqueous ethanol extracts of the defatted marc of fluted pumpkin seeds in adult Wistar rats (146876)

Ogechukwu E Ezim 1 , Sunny O Abarikwu 2 , Victoria C Obinna 3 , Chisom E Nebeolisa 4 , Vitalis N Onyejekwe 5 , Ozadheoghene E Afieroho 6
  1. Biochemistry, University Of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
  2. Biochemistry, University Of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
  3. Animal and Environmental Biology, University Of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
  4. Biochemistry, University Of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
  5. Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, University Of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
  6. Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, University Of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Medicinal plants are known to possess bioactive compounds that have contraceptive properties (1). It has been established that long term and excessive use of hormonal contraceptives have adverse effects (2). Ingestion of fluted pumpkin seeds potentially elicits toxicities in the gonads which could be reversible after withdrawal of treatment. We set-up 2 parallel studies to investigate the effect of HEX and Aq-EtoH extract on the fertility status of adult Wistar rats. In the first study rats were treated with HEX-and Aq-EtoH extracts of FPS at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg b.w respectively for 60 days. The HEX-extract at 800 mg/kg b.w was further investigated in the second study and applied to adult rats for 60 days followed by withdrawal of treatment for another 60 days. At the end of the study, male animals were mated with fertile adult females and animals were thereafter killed. The blood, kidney, liver, epididymis and testes were isolated and prepared for different biochemical assays, oxidative stress and tissue-specific markers, hormones and histological features were carried out by light microscopy. Body and organ weights and relative organ weights remained unchanged at the end of study and with no evidence of pregnancy in mated females at highest doses (HEX-800 and Aq-EtoH-800). We observed that extract especially the HEX-fraction has decreased serum testosterone levels, decreased fertility status, spermatozoa produced per day, 17-b-HSD without changing E2-levels. TBARS and NO were also lower compared to control values as well as sperm quality indexes. Histological features were found to show features of degenerated tubules without any alterations found in the liver and kidney. Withdrawal of treatment for 8 weeks showed the recovery of testosterone, testicular sialic acid, SOD and CAT as well as improved histological features of the testis and fertility status, although indexes of sperm quality were improved it did not reach sufficient threshold levels relative to control values. Our findings showed that FPS is safe at these tested doses and affirm male contraceptive potentials of FPS which can be mediated through regulation of testosterone levels and through its antioxidant activity.

 

  1. 1. Njoku, R.-C. C, & Abarikwu, S. O. (2021). J. Integr. Med., 19(2), 104–110.
  2. 2. Adisa W.A, Okhiai O, Bankole J.K, Iyamu OA, & Aigbe O. (2014). Am. J. Med. Biol. Res. 2(2):37–45.