EFFECTS OF THE LEAF DECOCTION OF MOMORDICA CHARANTIA (BITTER LEMON) ON MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE PERMEABILITY TRANSITION PORE AND FERTILITY IN MALE ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Certain anti-cancer agents act by inducing the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis which is mediated by the release of cytochrome C when the Mitochrondial Membrane Pemeability Transition (MMPT) pore opens. Several studies have authenticated the use of Momordica charantia (M.charantia) in the treatment of diabetes, breast cancer, skin tumor and prostatic cancer. This study was therefore carried out to determine whether the decoction of M.charantia will induce the opening of MMPT pore and the consequence of this on other parameters such as liver function and male fertility. Different doses, 35, 45, 55 and 65mg/100g body weight of the aqueous decoction of the fresh leaves of M.charantia were orally administered to groups A, B, C and D of animals respectively, for 30 days. The control group was fed with only water and feed ad libitum. Opening of MMPT pore was assayed in Mannitol-Sucrose-HEPES (MSH) buffer (210mM Mannitol, 7mM Sucrose and 5mM HEPES). Three hundred micromolar CaCI2/mg mitrochondria were measured quantitatively at 540nm in a Beckman UV spectrophotometer, Hepatic injury was assessed histologically and by the levels of Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (AST), y-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) in serum. Epididymal sperm samples obtained from the animals wer analyzed for motility, viability, sperm counts and morphology. Results were statistically analyzed using student's t-test and ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance. There were significant increases in the extent to which the different doses of the decoction induced opening of the MMPT pore. Maximum induction (-A540 =0.309) was obtained at 55mg/100g bw, which translates to about 11-fold increase when compared with control value (A540 -0.029) though, the extent of pore induction decreased to about 9-fold (A540 -0.249) at 65mg/100g bw. Significant reduction in sperm motility relative to control was observed for all treated animals. Sperm counts were also significantly reduced in this order: Group D< Group C< Group B< Group A< control with values ranging from 82.00-+2.45x10 6 cells/ml (control) to 64.25 -+8.26x10 6 cells /ml (Group D). Likewise, significant reductions of 86.25 -+ 4.79%, 91.67-+2.89% and 88.75-+2.50% in percentage viability were observed in animals that received 45.55 and 65mg/100g bw of decoction respectively, compared with control (95.5-+1.73%). Morphological abnormalities of sperm above the proposed 10% (Group B=12.94%, Group C=13.84% and Group D=13.02%) were also observed in animals that received 45mg/100g bw and above. There were significant dose-dependent increases in ALP and GGT levels for all groups relative to the control. Dose-related toxic effects of orally admnistered leaf decoction of M.charantia was observed in albino rats and may be implicated in male infertility in individuals who rely on the decoction in treating various ailments.