The effect of aqueous extract of tiger nut on body weight changes, gonadosomatic index and spermiogram of cyclophosphamide treated rats

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) is consumed by humans all over the world. It has also been found to have many medicinal uses, with notable effect on sperm parameters. Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent widely used as an anticancer that has been reported to have some toxic effects on sperm parameters. Hence, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of tiger nut on reproductive parameters of cyclophosphamide treated male Wistar rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats weighing between 170 and 200 g, aged between 18 and 20 weeks were randomly divided into six groups (five test groups and a control group) of six rats each. The control group received 1 ml of normal saline per animal, while the remaining five groups were orally administered with 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg doses of cyclophosphamide alone; 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg doses of cyclophosphamide with 500 mg/kg aqueous extract of Cyperus esculentus, and the aqueous extract (500 mg/kg) alone for 4 weeks. The differences observed for changes in body weight, gonadal volume, sperm motility and sperm livability were not statistically significant (p>0.05), but the sperm count was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the 5 mg/kg cyclophosphamide alone and 2.5 mg cyclophosphamide plus Cyperus esculentus treated groups compared to the control and other groups. Total sperm abnormalities were also significantly higher with cyclophosphamide groups and even control group as compared to aqueous extract of Cyperus esculentus alone. The result of this study shows that aqueous extract of Cyperus esculentus could be used for preserving fertility, as well as to reduce sperm morphological abnormalities that could arise from the use of cyclophosphamide.