Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Psidium guajava (Guava) Leaf Extract in Lead Acetate-Induced Male Reproductive Dysfunction in Albino Rats

Abstract

This study investigated the therapeutic potential of Psidium guajava (guava) leaf extract against lead acetate-induced male reproductive dysfunction in albino rats. Twenty-eight male albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=7 per group): Group A (negative control) received only food and water; Group B (positive control) received 30 mg/kg of lead acetate once daily for 14 days; groups C, and D, received 30 mg/kg of lead acetate once daily for 14 days followed by 250and 500 mg/kg of guava leaf extract respectively, once daily for another 14 days. After the treatment period, rats were anesthetized, sacrificed, and blood samples were collected into plain bottles through cardiac puncture for the assay of rat-specific luteinizing hormone (rLH), follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH), testosterone, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Epididymis samples were collected for semen analysis, and testes were processed for histological examination. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism, with significance set at p<0.05. The results indicated that flavonoids are the most abundant phytochemicals present in guava leaves, with a concentration of 8.01 mg/mL. Sperm motility and count showed considerable improvement in rats treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg of extract following exposure to lead acetate. The seminal pH was restored to near-neutral values in the guava-treated rats following lead acetate administration for 14 days. Lead-induced higher values of LH and FSH were considerably reduced in 250 and 500 mg/kg treated rats. However, the induced significant fall in the testosterone and testosterone-LH ratio values was observed to be tremendously elevated in the 250 and 500 mg/kg treated rats.  Finally, considerable fall and rise in the values of MDA and SOD respectively were observed in rats treated with 250 and 500 mg/kg of guava extract after exposure to lead acetate. Dose-dependent responses were observed in FSH and testosterone values. Conclusively, the 250 and 500 mg/kg doses of Psidium guajava leaf extract in the form of post-treatment intervention, considerably improved the sperm count, motility, and also restored the near-neutrality of seminal pH. In addition, testosterone, LH, and FSH concentrations were improved towards their optimal concentration.