Bioactive compounds from GC-MS analysis in methanolic extract of Gongronema latifolium inhibits aluminium chloride induced oxidative stress in rat spermatozoa in vitro

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of Gongronema latifolium extract on aluminum chloride-induced sperm oxidative stress. Spermatozoa were obtained from the epidydimis and dispersed in a buffer consisting of tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane, citric acid anhydrous and D (−) fructose (TCF buffer) and incubated with Gongronema latifolium alone (0.8 mg/ml), AlCl3 alone (50 mM) and Gongronema latifolium (0.2 – 0.8 mg/ml) + AlCl3 (50 mM) repectively, for 3 h at 32 0C. We found that exposure to aluminum chloride alone led to significant increase in lipid peroxidation (LP) 14.41±1.18µM and protein carbonyl content 19.21±0.9nM, but significant decrease on glutathione content 5.32±3.11mM. When Gongronema latifolium was added in the incubation medium, it improved and protected spermatozoa against the harsh effect of AlCl3 on sperm cells. Bioactive compounds detected from GC-MS analysis also revealed the presence of squalene, ascorbic acid, gamma tocopherol, phthalic acid,carbazic acid amongst others. This study showed that Gongronema latifolium could protect spermatozoa against AlCl3 induced sperm damage.