AMELORATIVE EFFECT OF AQUEAUS EXTRACT OF CARICA PAPAYA LEAVE AGAINST HIGH BODY TEMPERATURE IN ALBINO RATS

Abstract

The leaves of Carica papaya (C. papaya) are generally considered waste but their extracts have been linked various health benefits. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of C. papaya aqueous leaf extract to reduce genotoxicity of exposure to high temperature 40± 2 C0 for 3 hrs by using micronucleus test (MNT), sperm abnormality assay and biochemical parameters. Results showed that exposure of rats to heat 40±2 C0 for 3 hrs produced statisticaly significant increases in micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes ferquencies (46.2± 0.89) when it compared with control frequencies (14.5± 0.69). Treatment with C.papaya aqueous leaf extract before and after heat exposure reduced micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes MN-PCEs frequenceies (18.67 ±0.82 and 38.3 ±0.99) respectively No difference was observed in Polychromatic erythrocytes/ normochromatic erythrocyte( PCEs/NCEs) ratio in all groups. Sperm shape deformities reached up to 18.92% in rats exposed to heat (40±2 C0), while untreated rats showed 5.62%. Treatment with C.papaya aqueous leaf extract before and after heat exposure reduced sperm shape deformities by 12.37% and 6.53% respectively. Additionally exposure to heat caused a significant increased in serum biochemical variables (ALT,AST, total protein, urea , creatinin and albumin) .This increase was reduced with treatment c.papaya aquous leaf extract both after or before exposure to heat. These results suggest that exposure to heat40± 20C induced MNPCEs formation in bone marrow cells and increase abnormalities sperm shape, this effects reduced by C .papaya leaf extract.