Effects of the leaf decoction of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) on Mitochondrial Membrane Permeability Transition Pore (MMPTP) and fertility in normal male albino rats.

Momordica charantia (M. charantia), a medicinal plant of the family, Cucurbitaceae, is used in treating an array of ailments including diabetes, heamorrhoids, fevers and various cancers. Programmed cell death may be modulated by an intrinsic pathway involving the release of cytochrome C when the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition (MMPTP) pore is opened. Opening of MMPT pore was assayed using the method of Lapidus and Sokolove. The results obtained revealed that there was a dose-dependent and significant increase in the opening of the MMPT pore in rats orally administered the decoction with maximum induction (11-fold increase) at 55mg/100g body weight (bw), although the extent of opening of the pore was reduced at 65mg/100g bw (9-fold increase). An assessment of the blood parameters of animals orally exposed to the decoction showed significant decrease (p<0.05) in lymphocytes and a significant increase (p<0.05) in neutrophils at 55mg/ 100g bw. Moreover, significant increases (p<0.05) in RBC levels at 45 and 65mg/100g bw, were observed. Similarly, PCV and Heamoglobin values were also elevated at 65mg/100g bw while there was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in MCV and MCH values at 45, 55 and 65mg/100g bw. MCHC values were reduced only in animals that received 65mg/ 100g when compared to control animals. Analysis of the spermiogram of the experimental rats showed significant reductions (p<0.05) in sperm motility and sperm cell concentrations for all animals that were orally exposed to the decoction. There was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in percentage viability in animals that received 45mg/100g bw and above. Morphological abnormalities of sperm cells above the proposed percentage range (10%) were also observed in animals that received 45mg/100g bw and above. However, decoction did not show any significant effect on ALT and AST levels but there were significant increases (p<0.05) in a somewhat dose-dependent pattern in ALP and ãGT levels for all groups in comparison to the control group. These findings thus suggest dose-related negative or toxic effects of sub acute (30-day) oral administration of leaf decoction of M. charantia in albino rats and may therefore pose some danger to humans especially in regard to male fertility in individuals who rely on oral administration of the decoction in treating various ailments.