Mondia whitei, an African Spice Inhibits Mitochondrial Permeability Transition in Rat Liver

Mondia whitei is an African traditional spice with aphrodisiac properties. Inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) pore is an important cytoprotective process essential for cell survival. In this study, the effects of methanol extract (ME), dichloromethane (DCMF), ethyl acetate (EF), and methanol fractions (MF) of Mondia whitei on mPT, mitochondrial ATPase, lipid peroxidation, testosterone hormone (TH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were investigated; sperm analyses were also carried out. Male experimental rats were treated intraperitoneally with 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg bw of ME, DCMF, EF, and MF of Mondia whitei for two weeks. The positive and the negative controls received sildenafil citrate and the vehicle, respectively. The results showed that mPT was inhibited by MF at the highest dose. The ME, DCMF, and MF did not enhance ATPase activity. The levels of TH, FSH, and LH varied linearly with the drug dose only in EF. Malondialdehyde levels in the treated groups were significantly higher than the normal control. There were no significant defects in sperm produced by the animals in all the treated groups relative to the control. This study showed that the extract and fractions of Mondia whitei have cytoprotective effects and may prevent mitochondrial-mediated cell death.