SUB-ACUTE CHLOROQUINE TOXICITY ON TESTIS OF SWISS ALBINO MICE AND ITS AMELIORATION BY CURCUMIN

The objective of the present study is to investigate the adverse effect of chloroquine (CQ) toxicity on reproductive tissues and its attenuation by curcumin. Chloroquine (CQ) has been used widely as an antimalarial drug due to its quick action on blood schizontocide of different malarial parasite species for prophylaxis and treatment of malaria. Thirty-six male mice were divided into six experimental groups: control, curcumin (80 mg/kg b.w.), CQ low dose (100 mg/kg b.w.), CQ mid dose (200 mg/kg b.w.), CQ high dose (300 mg/kg b.w.) and CQ high dose + curcumin treated group. An oral dose of artesunate and curcumin was administered for a period of 14 and 21 days to male Swiss albino mice. Results obtained indicated significant alterations in biochemical parameters as well as energy metabolism parameters in testicular tissue of animals after the treatment with chloroquine. Moreover, sperm count, sperm motility percent, sperm viability and sperm morphology of cauda epididymis of chloroquine treated mice revealed significant fluctuations as compared to the control group. Administration of curcumin along with the chloroquine revealed comparable values of biochemical as well as sperm parameters with the control group. Hence, obtained results clearly indicates the strong mitigative potential of curcumin against chloroquine induced toxicity in Swiss albino male mice.