HERBS THAT OFFER PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION, DECREASE SPERM COUNT

Researchers have found that a
local plant commonly used to reduce blood
sugar level in diabetics, stimulate the
immune system in people living with
Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV)/
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS), protect the liver from damage,
reduce cholesterol, treat viral infections
and malaria could offer protection against
radiation, boost bone marrow growth and
decrease sperm count.
COMMONLY called stonebreaker, Phyllanthus
niruri also known as ‘Chanca piedra’ belongs
to the family Euphorbiaceae. Phyllanthus
niruri is similar to Phyllanthus amarus,
which also belongs to the same family. It is
a widespread tropical plant commonly
found in coastal areas that grows 40 to
70cm tall.
In Nigeria, it is called enyikwonwa and
ngwu in the Ibo, oyomokeso amanke edem
in Efik, geeron-tsuntsaayee (bird’s millet) in
Hausa, ehin olobe and yin-olobe in Yoruba.
Before now, all parts of this herb have been
proved to have a wide range of therapeutic
effects. Phyllanthus niruri has been
reported to reduce significantly blood sugar
level. Adedapo et al in 2005 reported the
immune stimulating effect of this herb.
Phyllanthus niruri has been reported to play
hepato-protective and antioxidant role.
Hepato-protection or anti-hepatotoxicity is
the ability to prevent damage to the liver.
Phyllanthus niruri has also been shown to
act as a hypo-lipemic agent, anti-lithic agent,
anti-viral and anti-malarial properties. Hypo-
lipemic is an agent that lowers the
concentration of fats in the blood. Anti-lithic
means preventing the formation of calculi,
or an agent that so acts. Calculi are mineral
deposits that can form a blockage in the
urinary system.
However, new findings suggest that the
aqueous crude extract of Phyllanthus niruri
could be used to protect humans from the
effect of radiation and has antifertility
activity.
According to a study published in Indian
Journal of Experimental Biology by
researchers at the Department of Research,
Jawaharlal Nehru Cancer Hospital and
Research Centre, India, Phyllanthus niruri
protects against radiation clastogenecity in
mouse bone marrow.
Clastogenic is an adjective that describes the
ability of an agent or process to act as a
clastogen—an agent or process giving rise
to or inducing disruption or breakages of
chromosomes.
The researchers studied the effects of
aqueous (PnAq) and alcoholic (PnA1 extract
(50-250 mg/kg) of P. niruri on in vivo
gamma radiation induced chromosome
aberration and in vitro antioxidant activity
(50-500 microg/ml). The antioxidant
activity was studied by measuring
inhibition of hydroxyl radicals generated by
the fenton reaction along with pro-oxidant
and iron chelating ability.
PnA1 showed highly significant in vitro free
radical scavenging ability when compared
to DMSO above 250 microg/ml
concentration. Dimethyl Sulphoxide (DMSO)
is a colorless liquid, which is an important
polar aprotic solvent that dissolves both
polar and nonpolar compounds and is
miscible in a wide range of organic solvents
as well as water. It penetrates the skin very
readily.
PnAq showed significant pro-oxidant
activity while PnA1 was devoid of it at the
tested concentrations. Exposure to gamma
radiation caused 29.10 per cent increase in
the frequency of chromosomal aberrations.
Administration of PnA1 (250 mg/kg)
showed highly significant decrease in
chromosomal aberrations compared to
radiation treated group.
The radio-protective potential of alcoholic
extract was found to be more effective
than the aqueous extract. Qualitative
phytochemical investigation of PnAq and
PnA1 revealed the presence of sugars,
flavonoids, alkaloid, lignans, polyphenols,
tannins, coumarins and saponins.
“Higher radio-protective effect of the
alcoholic extract may be attributed to rich
presence of antioxidant polyphenolic
compounds,” the researchers concluded.
According to another study published in
online academic student journal, Student
Pulse, the observation of progressive
weakness and reduction in agility across
the group may be as a result of a parameter
that did not form part of this research.
The study is titled: “Antifertility Effects of
Aqueous Extract of Phyllanthus niruri in
Male Albino Rats.”
According to the lead researcher, Valentine
U. Ezeonwu, the decrease in fertility
potentials reported after the treatment of
male rats with dihydroarteminisinin has
been attributed to impairment in sperm
motility and viability. Treatment of animals
with antimalarial drugs usually result in
reducing the sperm counts, motility,
viability and visible alteration alters the
morphology of the sperms, such
impairment of male fertility has been
reported with chloroquine and halofantrine
treated rats. Similar reports have been
reported in herbs that have anti-malarial
activity.
The study reads, “the findings of the
present study showed that the aqueous
extract of P.niruri could significantly alter
the fertility potential of male rats. The mere
fact that there was lack of effect on the
body weight on treated animals does not
rule out the possibility of a systemic toxicity
at the doses treated due to behavioral
alterations observed within the treated
group. The treated groups showed
progressive decrease in agility.
“Furthermore the significant increase
indicates that the extract may have toxic
effect on this organ. Simons et al (1995)
noted that increase or decrease in weight of
an organ after the administration of a
chemical agent is an indicator of a toxic
effect of such agent.
“The significant depletion of the fructose
level of the seminal fluid and reduction of
sperm viability, sperm motility and sperm
counts shows that the extract has the
potential to penetrate the blood-testis
barriers. Baddessarini (1980) reported that
effect of chemical agents on sperm
composition is attributed to their ability to
penetrate this barrier.
“This depletion of seminal fructose across
all the treated groups (p<0.05) invariably
affects the sperm motility and viability since
fructose serves as the driving energy of the
sperm and since fructose is androgen-
dependent may indicate reduction in
circulating androgen levels.
“Similarly, the decrease in sperm qualities
points to reduction in the circulating
androgen level. I would take caution in
suggesting that the near absence of
fructose is an indication of an obstruction
either in vas deferens or the epididymis
(Zhu et al 2006; Gonzales 1997) due to the
technique used in collection of the sample.
“Any chemical agent that can affect
reproductive activity will as well affect the
quality and quantity of the sperm. The
sperm counts, motility and viability of the
treated samples were significantly
decreased in groups D and E (p<0.05) when
compared to the control, such decrease can
be attributed anti-androgenic property of
the extract. Animals fed with 100mg/kg
showed no significant change in all the
parameters tested except the fructose level,
which indicates that at this concentration
the extract may not be toxic.
“Summarily, these observations show that
the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri
may have antifertility effects in albino rats
at doses above 200mg/kg. But since there
has been no such documentation of the
plant with respect to humans research
should be directed towards this area to
assess the effect of the extract on man.”