Ethylene glycol and plantain peel fraction ripened with calcium carbide inhibit reproductive mediators in male rats

The application of artificial fruit ripeners has become a great burden to the public health clinicians. This study assessed the toxicity effect of ethylene glycol (EOGH) and plantain peel fraction ripened with calcium carbide (CaC₂) on male reproductive functions. Forty male rats were divided into five groups (n = 8). Group 1 received distilled water only; group 2 received 200 mg/m³ ethylene glycol; group 3 received 1000 mg/kg of CaC₂; group 4 received 200 mg/kg plantain peel extract (PPE) and group 5 received 200 mg/kg plantain-peel extract ripened with CaC₂ (PPECC). The exposure via oral route lasted for 14 days. Sub-acute exposure of male rats to ethylene glycol, CaC₂ and PPECC elicited spermatogenic lesions through significant (p < 0.05) depletion of testosterone level, daily sperm production, sperm motility, live sperm and sperm count with elevated sperm deformity and testicular 5¹-nucleotidase activity upon exposure to ethylene-glycol, CaC₂ and PPECC in relation to PPE. Also, exposure to ethylene glycol, CaC₂ and PPECC remarkably increased testicular MDA content and serum AST, ALT and ALP activities which predisposes to spermatogenic abnormalities. Altogether, application of PPECC is suggested as one of the risk factors of liver failure associated with reproductive disruption in rat model.