Evaluation of the Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Sesamum Indicum Seeds on Testicular Morphometry of Adult Male Wistar Rats Secondary to Ketoconazole- Induced Damage
Yusuf MK, Ibegbu AO and Alawa JN
Published on: 2025-08-06
Abstract
Aim: The study was aimed at evaluating the effects of ethanolic extract of Sesamum indicum seeds on testicular morphometry in ketoconazole induced damage in Wistar rats.
Methods: Forty eight (48) adult male Wistar rats were divided into eight (8) Groups of six (6) rats each. Groups 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 were administered 1ml of normal saline, 100 mg/kg body weight (bwt) of Ketoconazole only, 500 mg/kg bwt of ethanolic extract of sesamum indicum (EESI) seeds then100 mg/kg bwt of Ketoconazole,100 mg/kg bwt of Ketoconazole then 250 mg /kg body weight of EESI seeds,100 mg/kg bwt of Ketoconazole then 500 mg/kg bwt of EESI, 100 mg/kg body weight of Ketoconazole then 0.36 mg/kg body weight of Mesterolone, 0.36 mg/kg body weight of Mesterolone,500 mg/kg body weight of EESI respectively. All administrations were carried out orally once per day. The histological slides were prepared for morphometric analyses.
Result: The morphometry of the seminiferous tubules in group 1 and in the groups administered EESI before ketoconazole were significantly increased compared with rats in the Group 2 alone (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusions: The administration of ethanolic extract of Sesamum indicum appeared to have minimized the distortion of the normal dimensions of the testes caused by ketoconazole which may be due to its androgenic properties.
Keywords
Evaluation; Sesamum; Morphometry; Testicular; ketoconazole; RatsIntroduction
Adverse effects of drugs among other factors are known to affect normal body functions and most especially reproductive health [1]. One of such Drugs is Ketoconazole, an antifungal drug [2].
Ketoconazole is packaged pharmaceutically in the form of tablets, creams and injections and has been reported to inhibit the stimulation of testicular testosterone production by Human Chorionic Gonadotropine in a dose dependent manner [3]. Steroids such as dihydrotestosterone and estradiol are equally, selectively displaced from serum-binding globulin by ketoconazole [4]. The suppression of testicular testosterone synthesis and the displacement of oestrogen from sex hormone binding globulin may decrease the androgen/oestrogen ratio of the blood and contributes to the development of gynaecomastia that has being reported in some ketoconazole treated patients [4]. Administration of ketoconazole alters sperm indices.
Over the years, there has been increased scientific research to minimize the health hazards potentiated by some toxins and this was done on phytochemicals extracted from plant species [5]. In an effort to stem the contraindications of some of these synthesized drugs, plant medicine (phyto-medicine) has been used as alternatives in many parts of Africa and the rest of the world [5].
One of such phyto-medicine is Sesame indicum. Sesame seeds are reported to contain high level of unsaturated fatty acids such as Oleic acid-38.84% and linolenic acid-46.26% [6]. Trace elements such as Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper and Phosphorous were also reported to be contained in it [7]. Sesame seeds are also reported to be rich in phyto estrogenic lignans which is an important phytochemical known to man [8]. The entire sesame plant is very valuable and serves as staple food in most ethnic groups in North-Central and South-Western part of Nigeria [9].
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