Abstract
BACKGROUND: Solanum melongena (SM) is commonly known as the garden egg fruit or eggplant. It can be eaten fresh or cooked and has a large history of consumption in West Africa. This study focused on interventions of aqueous extract of SM (garden eggs) fruits on Mercury chloride (HgCl(2)) induced testicular toxicity in adult male Wistar rats. METHODS: Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (A-D) of eight (n = 8) rats each. Group A Served as control and was given 10 ml/kg/day of distilled water, Group B- 500 mg/kg B.W of SM, Group C received 40 mg/kg B.W HgCl(2) and Group D- 500 mg/kg B.W of SM and 40 mg/kg B.W HgCl(2)). The administration was done by gastric gavage once a day, for twenty-eight consecutive days. Testicular weight, semen analysis revealing the sperm count and sperm motility were assessed, gross parameters of the testis and testicular histology were assessed. Testicular oxidative stress markers viz a viz malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also assessed. RESULTS: assessment of the histological profiles of the testes showed a derangement of the cytoarchitecture and deterioration of sperm quality after HgCl(2) administration and a marked improvement was observed after SM administration. Similarly, SM was associated with increased antioxidant parameters (SOD, CAT, GPx, and GSH) and decreased MDA in SM + HgCl(2) rats. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that S. melongena offers protection against free radical mediated oxidative stress of rats with mercury chloride induced testicular toxicity.