Ameliorating Potential of Honey on Caffeine Induced Sperm Toxicity in Male Albino Rats
U. U. Uno *
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria and Department of Biology, Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa, Nigeria
A. J. Umoyen
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
I. S. Esua
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
F. O. Okey
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
U. B. Ekaluo
Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study evaluated the ameliorating effect of honey on caffeine-induced sperm toxicity in male albino rats. Thirty healthy male albino rats of 12 weeks old were divided into five groups with six rats in each group using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The experimental animals were treated with combinations of caffeine and honey orally. Group 1 served as the control and was given only water and feed; Group 2 (honey group) received 10 ml/kgBW of honey; Group 3 (caffeine group) received 200 mg/kgBW of caffeine; Group 4 (C + H1 group) received 200 mg/kgBW of caffeine and 10 ml/kgBW of honey while Group 5 (C + H2) received 20 ml/kgBW of honey and 200 mg/kgBW of caffeine. The treatments lasted for a period of 65 days. Results showed statistically significant (p<0.05) reduction in weight of testes and epididymis, epididymal sperm viability, motility and count in caffeine treated rats when compared with the control. There was a concomitant increase in sperm head abnormalities in caffeine treated rats. However, honey effectively ameliorated the caffeine induced sperm toxicities in albino rat models in a dose-dependent manner.
Keywords: Caffeine, honey, ameliorating effect, sperm toxicity