Telfairia occidentalis Seed Extract and Fractions Mitigated Liver and Kidney Injuries in Rats with Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Abstract

Telfairia occidentalis Hook (Cucurbitaceae) seed, which is used in the preparation of soups and as medicine traditionally to treat various diseases by the Ibibios, was investigated for its effect on hematological parameters, liver and kidney functions, and histology in male Wistar rats with testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The effects of the extract and fractions of T. occidentalis seeds (138-553 mg/kg) on body weight, prostate weight and index, oxidative stress markers, hematological indices, liver and kidney functions, and histology were evaluated after 28 days of treatment with extract/fractions. The seeds extract/fractions were found to cause a significant (p<0.05- 0.01) decrease in prostate weights and indices, elevation of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPX) and molecule (GSH), and also reduce MDA level. The extract/fractions treatment further caused improvement in liver functions (AST, ALT, ALP, total and combined bilirubin, total protein, and albumin level) and kidney functions (urea, creatinine, and electrolytes) of the treated rats. Furthermore, treatment of the rats with the seed extract and fractions resulted in the reduction of pathological signs in the histology of these organs in the extract/fractions-treated rats. The seed extract/fractions did not affect the hematological indices of the rats significantly(p>0.05) when compared to the control. These results indicate that the seed extract and fractions of T. occidentalis possess liver and kidney protective potentials in rats with testosterone-induced BPH, which is due to the antioxidant activities of its phytochemical constituents.