THE POTENTIAL PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ROASTED DATE PALM CAKE EXTRACTS (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L.) AGAINST NICKEL CHLORIDE-INDUCED INFERTILITY IN MALE MICE

The powder date palm cake is sold in coffee and confectionary shops in the central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where it is used as a hot drink in the form of decoction. It is alleged by users in the local community in Saudi Arabia to improve fertility. The date palm cake is the roasted grounded seeds of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential protective effect of the date palm extracts against nickel chloride-induced infertility in male mice. The effects of nickel compounds on reproduction in rodent models are well documented. The method adopted is the injection of nickel chloride (10 mg/kg) intra-peritoneal to induce infertility in male mice. The chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts were used to assess their protective effects. Sperm abnormalities and testicular histopathology were evaluated. The results showed that the administration of chloroform extract enhanced the sperm count and reduced sperm abnormalities. Moreover, the abnormalities induced by nickel chloride were restored to a great extent compared to that of ethyl acetate extract. The chloroform extract also showed the highest total phenol and antioxidant activity, besides that it showed a reduction of empty spaces and decreased the germ epithelium distortion effects produced by the nickel chloride, however, the large dose of ethyl acetate induce mortality. This study partly aligned with the folk use of the date cake as a drink.