Experimental diabetes and the epididymis of Wistar rats: The protective effects of Anacardium occidentale (Linn.)

Abstract

Aim: The use of botanical remedies as adjunct therapies in the management of diabetes mellitus is on the increase. Anacardium occidentale has been reported in the literature to possess anti-diabetic and hypoglycemic properties. This study evaluated the effects of acute treatment of A. occidentale on blood glucose and epididymis histopathology of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups of 10 rats each. A group served as the normoglycemic control and was administered 1 ml/kg bw/day citrate buffer. Hyperglycemia was induced in 30 overnight-fasted rats with a single i.p injection of STZ (70 mg/kg bw/day). Hyperglycemia was confirmed 48 h later and thereafter allowed to stabilize for 5 days. 300 mg/kg bw/day of ethanolic extract of A. occidentale was administered orally to a group of diabetic rats (n = 10). Insulin was also administered subcutaneously at 10 I.U/kg bw/day to another group (n = 10). Another group served as the hyperglycemic control and received 1 ml of citrate buffer/kg bw/day. Treatment after a 5-day stabilization of hyperglycemia lasted for 17 days. In each group blood glucose and epididymal histology were assessed. Results: By the end of the experimental period, all hyperglycemic rats in the extract-treated group had become normoglycemic. Moreover, extract-treated rats showed improved epididymal morphology and luminal sperm aggregate within the duct comparable to normoglycemic and insulin-treated rats. Conclusion: We conclude that A. occidentale proved valuable in mitigating the detrimental effects of hyperglycemia on the epididymis.