Antiandrogenic activity of Calotropis procera latex in rats

Objective: To determine the effects of Calotropis procera latex on pubertal traits of immature male Wistar rats. Methods: A total of 30 immature male Wistar rats aged 3 weeks old were grouped randomly into 5 groups: group A (control group) was offered distilled water as a placebo; group B was daily oral dosed with suspension of Calotropis procera latex at a dose rate of 5 mg/kg BW, group C 10 mg/kg BW; group D 15 mg/kg BW and group E 20 mg/ kg BW. The rats were weighed daily to adjust the dose and record the BW changes, and the treatment continued for 4 weeks; thereafter, rats were sacrificed. Serum samples (n=30) were collected from all rats and kept frozen until assayed for reproductive hormones. Furthermore, the testes and epididymae were weighed; epididymal sperms were counted; sperm motility & abnormality were estimated; and histopathological sections of the testes were prepared. Results: The results of this study showed that oral dosing of immature male rats with Calotropis procera latex at doses rate 10 mg/kg BW significantly (P<0.05) reduced the growth rate, BW, testicular & epididymal weights, the level of most of reproductive hormones as well as the sperm traits examined; however, it significantly (P<0.05) augmented the abnormalities of spermatozoa and the seminiferous epithelium. Conclusions: Latex of Calotropis procera contains substances that have anti-androgenic activities and/or endocrine disrupting effects. If these substances are purified and identified, they can be used as male contraceptives.