ASSESSMENT OF TESTICULAR PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF HYDRO ETHANOIC WATERMELON RIND EXTRACT IN WISTAR RATS EXPOSED TO CADMIUM
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Abstract
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal pollutant that causes significant reproductive dysfunction in males through oxidative stress and testicular damage. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) rind contains bioactive phytochemicals with potential antioxidant properties that may offer protection against heavy metal-induced toxicity. This study investigated the testicular protective effect of hydroethanolic watermelon rind extract against cadmium-induced reproductive toxicity in Wistar rats. Twenty-five male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into five groups of five animals each. Group one served as the control and received distilled water only. Group two received 1 mg/kg
body weight of cadmium chloride in distilled water . Group three was co-administered 1 mg/kg of cadmium chloride and 100 mg/kg of vitamin C as positive control. Groups four and five received
1 mg/kg of cadmium chloride alongside 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of aqueous extract of Citrullus lanatus phytowaste (AECLP), respectively . All treatments were administered orally for sixty consecutive days. On day sixty-one, the animals were fasted overnight, humanely sacrificed, and samples collected. Semen was obtained from the epididymis for sperm analysis including sperm count, motility parameters. Results demonstrated that AECLP at both doses caused severe reproductive toxicity rather than protection, with complete elimination of progressive sperm motility, total loss of sperm viability, and undetectable sperm counts compared to control and
cadmium-only groups. The extract paradoxically enhanced testicular cadmium bioaccumulation, particularly at the higher dose. These findings suggest that watermelon rind extract at the tested
doses exhibits dose-dependent reproductive toxicity, warranting comprehensive safety reevaluation before therapeutic applications in reproductive health
body weight of cadmium chloride in distilled water . Group three was co-administered 1 mg/kg of cadmium chloride and 100 mg/kg of vitamin C as positive control. Groups four and five received
1 mg/kg of cadmium chloride alongside 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of aqueous extract of Citrullus lanatus phytowaste (AECLP), respectively . All treatments were administered orally for sixty consecutive days. On day sixty-one, the animals were fasted overnight, humanely sacrificed, and samples collected. Semen was obtained from the epididymis for sperm analysis including sperm count, motility parameters. Results demonstrated that AECLP at both doses caused severe reproductive toxicity rather than protection, with complete elimination of progressive sperm motility, total loss of sperm viability, and undetectable sperm counts compared to control and
cadmium-only groups. The extract paradoxically enhanced testicular cadmium bioaccumulation, particularly at the higher dose. These findings suggest that watermelon rind extract at the tested
doses exhibits dose-dependent reproductive toxicity, warranting comprehensive safety reevaluation before therapeutic applications in reproductive health
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