Annona muricata Aqueous Extract Ameliorates Testicular and Epididymal Sperm Toxicity in Rats Exposed to Gasoline Fumes

Abstract

In the present study, aqueous leaf extract of Annona muricata was assessed for its capacity to mitigate testicular damages and sperm toxicity induced by gasoline fumes. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomized into four groups of eight animals per group: the control group was given distilled water, and the PEBI group was exposed to petrol by inhalation and petrol-exposed animals that were concomitantly treated with A. muricata at 100 and 200 mg kg⁻¹ body weight (b.w), respectively (PEBI + AM100 and PEBI + AM200) via oral gavage. Oxidative stress markers, sperm quality variables and histological examination of the testes evaluated at the end of the 10-week exposure period showed that coadministration of A. muricata significantly reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration, elevated catalase (CAT) activity, diminished DNA fragmentation and improved sperm quality, thereby attenuating testicular and epididymal sperm toxicity in rats exposed to gasoline fumes. Interestingly, the higher dose A. muricata could also lower lipid peroxidation to below the control values, demonstrating the antilipoperoxidative and antioxidant protective effects of A. muricata in a gasoline fume model of testicular and spermatoxicity in rats.