Objective: To evaluated the antioxidant and protective effect of Thaumatococcus daniellii (T. daniellii) on rat feed on potassium bromate (KBrO3) toxicity in male rat testes.
Methods: Thirty male albino rats of average weight 140 ± 5 g were randomly grouped into 5 with six rats per group. The rats in group A (positive control) and test groups (C, D and E) were orally given 0.5 mL of 10 mg/kg body weight of KBrO3 daily. The animals in the negative control (group B) and positive control were fed with commercial rat feed while the animals in the tests groups were fed with 10%, 20% and 30% T. daniellii leaf rat feed respectively. The treatment was carried out for 14 days consecutively, and the animals were sacrificed 24 h after the last day of the treatment.
Results: Biochemical assays were carried out on the testicular homogenates. The results showed significant increase (P < 0.05) in malondialdhyde, total protein, and superoxide dismutase as well as testicular glycogen in the positive control compared to test groups. The histopathological result showed testicular cellular degeneration in the positive control compared to the test animals which showed normal cell due to protective effect of the leaf.
Conclusions: The biochemical and histopathological results in this present study showed testicular toxicity in the rats administered with KBrO3 and T. daniellii leaf protective effect on the testicular function toxicity in rats fed with T. daniellii leaf rat feed.