Hydroethanolic extract of Ixora coccinea leaves inhibits testicular and epididymal toxicity associated with antitumor drug Cisplatin in rats

Cisplatin (Cp) is one of the most effective chemotherapy antineoplastic drugs. Nevertheless, it causes numerous injurious effects on numerous organs, precisely the testes. Ixora coccinea (IC) is a well-known medicinal herb and has a long history of medicinal use as a tonic to promote health. This study revealed the inhibitory effects of hydroethanolic extract of IC leaves (HEICL) on CP-induced testicular damage in male Wistar rats. Thirty (30) adult male Wistar rats were used and divided into six groups of five rats. These groups were treated as followed: Group 1(control group) and 2 were administered (0.9% saline) and CP (10 mg/kg. b.wt) intraperitoneal (IP) route respectively, and groups 3 and 4 were administered HEICL at 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg and 5 and 6 were co-treated with Cp + HEICL (150 and 300 mg/kg) respectively. The treatment duration was 28 days. Spermatological profiles and testicular histopathology were assessed. Cp-treated rats showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in relative organ weight and sperm parameters. On the other hand, Cp treatment increased the percentage of sperm abnormalities relative to the control and the groups administered HEICL only. These results were confirmed by histopathological analysis. Contrarily, there were modulations in cp-induced spermiotoxic and testicular damage following the HEICL pretreatment. Our research showed that CP treatment exerts damaging consequences on sperm parameters, testicular tissues, and accessory sex organs in rats. Pre-treatment with HEICL for 26 days at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg bodyweight had a protective role against testicular damage brought on by CP.