Protective effects of Citrullus lanatus seed ethanol extract on aluminum chloride-induced testosterone, testicular and hematological changes in an experimental male rat model

The study was done to ascertain the protective potentials of ethanol seed extract of Citrullus lanatus on aluminum chloride-induced reproductive and hematological toxicities. Thirty mature male rats were used for the study. They were assigned into five groups (n = 6). Group 1 was treated daily with aluminum chloride (100 mg kg(-1)) per os for 8 weeks. Group 2 was treated with aluminum chloride (100 mg kg(-1)) and C. lanatus seed extract (CLSE) 200 mg kg(-1) per os simultaneously for 8 weeks. Group 3 was served as a normal control and given distilled water as a placebo per os daily for 8 weeks. Group 4 was only treated with CLSE (200 mg kg(-1)) for eight weeks. Group 5 was only treated with aluminum chloride (100 mg kg(-1)) per os for 8 weeks and then treated with CLSE (200 mg kg(-1)) per os for another 4 weeks. Testosterone level, testicular weight, sperm motility, gonadal sperm, and extragonadal sperm reserves showed significant increases in group 2 compared to groups 1 and 5. Optimum histoarchitectural protection of the seminiferous tubules was observed in group 2, which did not differ from normal ones. For the hematological parameters, optimum protection was also observed in group 2 compared to other groups. From the results, ethanol seed extract of C. lanatus demonstrated protective potentials against aluminum's harmful effects on the male reproductive system and hematology in an experimental male rat model.