Effect of Tiger Nut Meal on Food/Water Intake, Body Weight Changes and Semen Abnormality in Androgen-Induced BPH in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Introduction: Food and water intake correlate positively. This may be due to their mutual dependence on body size, but an additional mechanism directly linking food and water intakes may also be involved. It is also believed that Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) has some fertility boosting effects. However, scientific validation of some the fertility boosting belief concerning tiger nut is lacking.

Objective: The aim of this project was to study the effects of tiger nut meal on Food and water intake, Total Protein, Body weight changes, Semen consistency and Total abnormality of the sperm cell following induction of BPH and its treatment.

Methods: A total of sixty (60) male rats weighing between 160 – 200 g were used in this study. They were divided into six groups of ten rats per group. Benign prostate hyperplasia was induced in three groups of the rats (as stated in methodology) with 30 mg/kg sub-cutaneous injections of hormones containing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol valerate dissolved in olive oil in the ratio of 10:1 (three times in a week, one day interval). Administration of tiger nut meal commenced immediately and lasted for two months. At the end of administration, blood sample was collected from the rat via cardiac puncture for the determination of Total Protein. Semen samples were collected for analysis of semen Total Abnormality and Consistency (Thickness). The food/water intake as well as body weight changes were also studied.

Results: Following the induction of BPH, the administration of tiger-nut meal showed some good effect on the rats. On Total Protein (TP), the administration of the tiger nut meal increased the TP levels in both the induced and non-induced (p<0.05). On food and water intake, tiger nut meal enhances the intake of food at high dosage(p<0.05) while at the same time, decreasing water intake in the rats (p>0.05). On weight changes, the result showed a significant decrease in the weight of the rats. (p>0.05). Again, the administration of tiger-nut meal significantly lowered the level of total abnormality of the semen recorded following the induction of BPH (p>0.05) while at the same time, enhancing the Semen consistency (Thickness of the sperm) (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Tiger nut meal lowered the rate of water intake, body weight of the rats and total semen abnormality while at the same time, enhancing food intake, Total Protein and semen consistency.