Activity of alkaloid extract of Carica papaya seeds on reproductive functions in male wistar rats

Abstract

Activity of the alkaloid extract of Carica papaya Linn seed on male reproductive physiology was investigated. Male rats were divided into two groups. Each group of 20 male rats was further divided into 4 subgroups of 5 rats. Each rat was treated with C. papaya seed extract (10, 50, and 150 mg kg-1day-1) daily for 3 days for fecundity study, semen analysis, and testis histopathology, respectively. Twenty male rats treated with C. papaya seed extract (10, 50, and 150 mg kg-1 day-1), abstained from sex for 7 days and divided into 4 groups, were mated with fertile female rats: another set of 30 male rats, divided into 4 groups, treated with the seed extract (10, 50, and 150 mg kg-1 day-1), respectively, was used for semen analysis and testis histopathology. The results showed that oral administration of C. papaya seed extract prevented ovum fertilization, reduced sperm cell counts, revealed sperm cell degeneration, and induced testicular cell lesion. These observations led to the conclusion that C. papaya seed extract oral administration could induce reversible male infertility and therefore could be used for pharmaceutical development of a male contraceptive. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Ltd.