How fluted pumpkin diet prevents sperm damage, diabetes, cancer

Can eating meals rich in fluted pumpkin leaves and seeds prevent the onset of andropause, beat diabetes, cancer, and low blood count? CHUKWUMA MUANYA writes.

NIGERIAN researchers have demonstrated how diets rich in fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis, ugu in Ibo) leaves and seeds could be used to increase haematological indices, improve sperm quality, reduce blood glucose levels, and stop cancers.
Researchers from the Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, and Department of Biochemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, found that fluted pumpkin seeds diet resulted in a modest reduction of biochemical castration and an improvement in secretory capacity of the testes of the test rats, relative to the control group that received the hormones but was placed on a normal diet.
They concluded that Telfairia occidentalis seeds incorporated diet may be useful in inhibiting the induction of experimental andropause.
Andropause, also referred to as late onset hypogonadism (LOH) in males, partial androgen deficiency of ageing males (PADAM), or menopause of males, results from an imbalance in the concentrations of the steroid hormones, testosterone and estradiol. It is a process that begins gradually and over time results in both physiologic and psychologic changes.
In most men undergoing andropause, the hormonal changes are either an increase in the level of estradiol or a decrease in the level of testosterone, or both- factors that are typical of the effect of biochemical castration - such that serum total, free, or bioavailable testosterone levels drop markedly. Men undergo these hormonal alterations with age and this is worrisome as low testosterone levels are associated with pathologies like diabetes, reduced bone and muscle mass, impotence and impaired sexual function, depression, lethargy, and decreased quality of life.
Results of an earlier study published in African Journal of Biotechnology suggested that T. occidentalis could increase haematological indices within seven days. It could also improve sperm quality and could be a potent hypoglycemic agent.
The study is titled: “Aqueous extract of Telfairia occidentalis leaves reduces blood sugar and increases haematological and reproductive indices in male rats.”
The researchers studied the effects of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Telfairia occidentalis (fluted pumpkin) on some haematological indices, sperm parameters and blood glucose in male albino rats.
The experiment was divided into two parts. In the first part, 12 male rats were divided into two groups of six rats each. Group 1 rats served as control and were given 10 ml/kg of normal saline while the group 2 rats were treated with 200 mg/kg of the aqueous extract for two weeks. At the end of the treatment period, haematological indices (packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red and white blood cell counts), sperm parameters (sperm motility, viability and counts) and blood glucose were determined.
In the second part of the experiment, 24 male rats were divided into four groups of six rats each. Group 1 rats served as control while groups 2, 3 and 4 rats were given 200 mg/kg of the extract for 5, 7 and 14 days, respectively. Haematological indices were determined in these rats at the end of the treatment.
The results showed that T. occidentalis significantly increased all the haematological indices and sperm parameters. In contrast, however, the extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels. The results also showed that the increase in the haematological indices started after the seventh day of treatment.
Another study published in Journal of Medicinal Food Plants showed that the leaves of four plant foods commonly consumed in Nigeria namely Gnetum afri- canum (ukazi or uziza in Ibo), Gongronema latifolium (utazi in Ibo), Telfairia occidentalis, Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf, nchuanwu in Ibo) contain some known potential cancer chemo-perventive agents such as flavonoids, tannins, chalcones, anthocyanidins, phytosterols, chlorophyll, saponins, glycosides and alkaloids.
The Annals of Medical & Health Sciences Research study investigated the usefulness of a diet containing 15 per cent Telfairia occidentalis seeds in the inhibition of the induction of experimental andropause.
Twenty male rats were divided into four equal groups. Rats in the test group received dihydrotestosterone and estradiol valerate (ratio 10:1) subcutaneously every other day for 28 days and were placed on the test diet. Those in control I received the hormones, but not the test diet.
Rats in controls II and III received olive oil (vehicle) and were placed on the test diet and normal diet, respectively. Testes weights and relative weights, serum testosterone concentrations, and testosterone concentration per gram of testicular tissue were measured or determined in all rats using standard protocols. Data were analysed and differences between means separated using one-way analysis of variance.
Rats in the test group had slightly larger mean relative testes weights compared to those in control I, though both were significantly smaller than the values obtained in controls II and III, respectively. Rats in the test group had significantly higher (P=0.034) serum testosterone concentrations relative to the control I group 6.9(0.3) ng/ml vs. 4.7(0.1) ng/ml, while the testosterone relative to testes weight values (ng/ml/g) of the test group was 16.8(3.4), and for controls I, II, and III the values were 12.3(1.4), 5.5(0.4), and 4.6(0.7), respectively. The differences between the test and control groups were all significant.
Researchers from the Department of Biological Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State in the study published in Journal of Medicinal Food Plants wrote: “The four plant foods investigated namely Gnetum africanum, Gongronema latifolium, Telfairia occidentalis and Ocimum gratissimum are common tropical plant foods whose leaves are consumed especially in South Eastern Nigeria.
“The preliminary screening of these plant foods using simple chemical tests, paper chromatography showed that they contain some known potential cancer chemo-preventive agents such as flavonoids, tannins, chalcones, anthocyanidins, phytos- terols, chlorophyll, saponins, glycosides and alkaloids. The presence of these bioactive phytochemicals has been reported in several African plants. Phytosterols, which are terpenoid compounds have been reported to inhibit certain cancers in animals.
“Flavoniods, anthocyanadins and chalcones are ubiquitous phytochemicals with pronounced bioactivity. Some of these compounds such as apigenin and licochalcone have showed chemopreventive properties against several cancers. Saponins such as diosgenin have been found to have therapeutic and chemo-preventive effects.
“Tannins consumed in large quantities as fruits and vegetables on a daily basis such as ellagi- tannins are also effective against some cancers. The chemopreventive properties of alkaloids and glycosides have al- so been reported. Chlorophylin found in chlorophyll produces an anti- promoting effect on skin cancer in mice. All the four plants almost had similar constituents of these substances except for alkaloids, which was only prominent in Telfairia occidentalis. These chemopreven- tive agents are able to enhance host pro- tective systems such as detoxification en- zymes against carcinogens. Combinatorial effects are even more effective due to the synergistic actions of phytochemicals.”