Activity of Alkaloid Extract of Carica papaya. Seeds on Reproductive Functions in Male Wistar Rats

Figures & data

Table 1 C. papaya. ethanol extract (CPEE, 10, 50, and 150 mg kg⁻¹day⁻¹) treatment for 3 days on the fecundity of male rats.

Group	Experiment	n	Dosage (mg/kg)	NPR/NRM	Average litters
1	Control (corn oil)	5	0.5 ml/rat	5/5	9
2	CPEE	5	10	1/5	1 < 1
3	CPEE	5	50	0/5	0
4	CPEE	5	150	0/5	0

n, number of rats; NPR, number of pregnant rats; NRM, number of rats mated.

Table 2 C. papaya. ethanol extract (CPEE 10, 50, and 150 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) treatment for 3 days on the sperm cell integrity in male rats.

Group	Experiment	n	Dosage (mg/kg)	X¯BW (g)	X¯CC (c/mm^3)	X¯%AB
1	Control (corn oil)	5	0.5 ml/rat	205.6±2	62 × 10^6±1	40±1
2	CPEE	5	10	147±1	38 × 10^6±2	65±3
3	CPEE	5	50	170±3	25 × 10^6±2	84±1
4	CPEE	5	150	187.3±2	15 × 10^6±3**	90±1

*p < 0.1

**p < 0.05 by Student's t.-test.

X¯BW, mean body weight; X¯CC, mean cell count; X¯%AB, mean percent of abnormal cell count; n, number of rats.

Table 3 C. papaya. ethanol extract (CPEE 10, 50, and 150 mg kg⁻¹day⁻¹) treatment for 3 days on the sperm cell count in male rats.

Group	Experiment	n	Dosage (mg/kg)	X¯BW (g)	X¯CC (c/mm^3)	X¯%AC
1	Control (corn oil)	5	0.5 ml/rat	205.6±2	62 × 10^6±1	37.2±0.1
2	CPEE	5	10	147.5±1	38 × 10^6±2	13.3±0.1
3	CPEE	5	50	170.6±3	25 × 10^6±1	3.8±1.0**
4	CPEE	5	150	187.3±2	15 × 10^6±3**	1.5±0.15**

*p < 0.1

**p < 0.05 by Student's t.-test compared to control.

n, number of rats; X¯BW, mean body weight per group; X¯ACC, mean active cells counted per group; X¯%AC, mean percent of active cells.

Figure 1Photomicrograph of the cross section of rat testis treated with corn-oil alone as control (× 160).

Figure 2Photomicrograph of the cross section of rat testis treated with C. papaya. seeds extract, 10 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ for 3 days. Arrows showing (a) mild atrophy of seminiferous tubules and (b) spermatogenesis arrest (× 160).

Figure 3Photomicrograph of the cross section of rat testis treated with 50 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ for 3 days. Arrows showing (a) spermatogenesis arrest, (b) Leydig cell metaplasia, and (c) seminiferous tubule atrophy (× 160).

Figure 4Photomicrograph of the cross section of rat testis treated with 150 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ for 3 days. Arrows showing (a) sperm cell degeneration, (b) Leydig cell metaplasia, (c) seminiferous tubules atrophy, and (d) spermatogenesis arrest (×160).

Table 4 C. papaya. ethanol extract (CPEE, 10, 50, and 150 mg kg⁻¹day⁻¹) treatments for 3 days on the morphology of testes.

Group	Experiment	Dosage	Observation
1	Control (corn oil)	0.5 ml/rat (mg kg^−1 day^−1)	Normal morphology
2	CPEE	10	A mild degeneration of spermatozoa and spermatogenesis arrest.
3	CPEE	50	Spermatogenesis arrest, Leydig cell metaplasia, and seminiferous tubule atrophy.
4	CPEE	150	Severe spermatogenesis arrest at spermatogonia stage, sperm cell degeneration, seminiferous tubule atrophy, Leydig and Sertoli cell metaplasia.