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

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.