Comparative Experimental Evaluation of Rauwolfia vomitoria and Anthocleista vogelii Extracts for Mitigating Radiation-Induced Testicular Endocrine Dysfunction and Histological Injury in Wistar Rats

The surge in cancer incidence has increased use of radiation therapy. However, scattered or direct ionizing radiation to testicular tissue can impair steroidogenesis, gonadotropin control, and spermatogenesis. This study examined extracts of Rauwolfia vomitoria and Anthocleista vogelii as therapies for radiation-induced testicular injury.

We used thirty-six male Wistar rats randomly assigned to six groups of six. Group 1 served as control and received normal saline; Group II received 7-Gy abdominopelvic irradiation; Groups III and IV received 100mg/kg ethanolic extract of Rauwolfia vomitoria and 200mg/kg aqueous extract of Anthocleista vogelii for 14 days before irradiation, continued for eight weeks after irradiation. While Group V and VI received pre-treatment of the extract only.

After eight weeks, rats were euthanized, and blood and tissue specimens were collected for hormonal and histological examination. We assessed serum testosterone, oestradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), and analyzed histology. Compared with controls, irradiation reduced testosterone by 81%, oestradiol by 39.2%, and FSH and LH by 40.8% and 46.2%, respectively. Both extracts improved all hormone levels, p < .001. Histology assessment showed tubular necrosis, reduced germ cells, Leydig cell hypoplasia, and absent spermatogenesis; these changes correlated with lower hormone levels.

Treatment with extracts before and after irradiation increased hormones compared to irradiation alone and preserved seminiferous architecture and luminal spermatozoa. The Rauwolfia vomitoria groups did not differ from controls except for a decrease in testosterone level testosterone decrease. Pre-treatment with Rauwolfia vomitoria increased testosterone but did not restore FSH or LH. Continued treatment before and after irradiation produced the best endocrine and histological recovery, and was superior to pre-treatment alone. Further study using formulations, histology, mechanistic biomarkers, and fertility outcomes is needed.

Keywords: Anthocleista vogelii, ionizing radiation, reproductive hormones, Rauwolfia vomitoria, testicular damage.