The Effects Of Pawpaw On Sperm Count

Pawpaws are the fruit of the Asimina triloba tree which is endemic to the eastern United States and southern Canada. Pawpaws belong to the Annonaceae plant family, which includes mostly tropical and subtropical species.

The extracts of unripe fruits of pawpaw are used in Nigerian traditional medicine to treat hypertension and malaria/fever. Typhoid fever, diabetes mellitus, and hypoglycemia are all treated with the dried seeds of ripe paw-paw fruits.

Is pawpaw good for sperm ?

To ascertain the answer to this question lets go through quickly a research study carried out on this topic.

Orally, pawpaw seed extract was administered to four groups of male rats, each with five rats. Group 1 was given maize oil as a control, whereas groups 2 through 4 were given pawpaw extract in doses of 10, 50, and 150 mg kg1day1 for three days.

The male rats were slaughtered 24 hours after treatment, and their right testes were separated for sperm cell integrity and morphology examination, while the left testes were fixed in 10% formal-saline for histopathology.

Semen samples were taken from the left testes during a surgical procedure to determine sperm cell counts. The semen was diluted in normal saline (1:200) and stained with 1 drop of MIF fixative stain per ml.

A hemocytometer chamber was used to analyse the prepared sample under a microscope. The concentration of spermatozoa was evaluated, and a differential cell count revealed physical abnormalities.

Percentage abnormality = total sperm cell count minus active cell count divided by total sperm cell count 100.

After being fixed in 70% alcohol and stained with hematoxylin, the morphology of the sperm cell was inspected microscopically.

The result obtained shows that, In male rats, extract (10, 50, and 150 mg kg1day1) there was an induced pathological abnormalities in the testes morphology.

The pathologic effects were dose-dependent and ranged from modest seminiferous tubule atrophy to severe Leydig and Sertoli cell metaplasia to spermatozoa degeneration.

This shows that a significant intake of pawpaw seeds may have a significant negative effect on sperm count. A good sperm count is needed to fertilize the female ovum for pregnancy to occur.

This simply means that the negative effect of pawpaw seeds on sperm can reduce fertility in men.

But outside this negative effect papaya has been known for a lot of good health benefits some of which will be discussed below.

The good benefits of pawpaw

Worm expeller

Dried pawpaw seeds are helpful in destroying and flushing out worms from the body, according to researchers at Nigeria’s Obafemi Awolowo University’s College of Health Sciences.

According to a 2007 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, 76.7 percent of individuals given honey blended with dried pawpaw seeds were free of parasites after seven days, compared to 16.7% of those given honey alone.

Menstruation

The pawpaw fruit helps to regulate menstrual flow and relieve period cramps. It contains an enzyme called papain, which aids in controlling and relieving menstruation flow.

Treatment for dengue fever

The decoction of pawpaw leaves showed promising anti-Dengue fever efficacy. Researchers tested its extract against Dengue illness in a 45-year-old patient who had been bitten by mosquitos carrying the dengue virus. Based on the patient’s recovery and blood results, they published their advice in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine.

Help with blood sugar management

Experts have discovered chemical compounds in pawpaw leaves that help manage blood sugar levels. In a 2011 study published in The Journal of Natural Product Research, the pawpaw-treated group of rats had significantly lower blood glucose levels than the control group.

Immune system booster

Researchers from The University of Tokyo’s Institute of Medical Science believe that pawpaw leaf extract could be used to cure and prevent certain human ailments such as cancer and allergies.

Furthermore, a single pawpaw fruit has more than 200 percent of the daily Vitamin C requirement, making it ideal for strengthening the immune system.

Wound healing

Researchers in the 2003 West Indian Medical Journal found that pawpaw seed extracts block several disease-causing organisms including E coli, implying that it could be effective in the treatment of persistent skin ulcers to aid healing.

Aids in the fight against cancer

Raw pawpaw bark extracts inhibit cancer cell development, according to a study published in the Journal of Natural Products in 2010. Acetogenin, a substance found in pawpaw, as well as its seeds, was found to be particularly efficient in reducing colon, breast, lung, leukaemia, and prostate cancer.

Lowers cholesterol levels

Pawpaw fruits are high in fibre, vitamin C, and antioxidants, all of which help to keep cholesterol from forming in the arteries. A build-up of cholesterol in the arteries can totally obstruct them, resulting in a heart attack. In diabetic rats, its extract lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Aids in the prevention of arthritis

Pawpaw is beneficial for the bones because it has anti-inflammatory effects as well as Vitamin C, which helps to prevent various types of arthritis.

According to a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, those who ate low-vitamin C meals were three times more likely to develop arthritis than those who did not.

Supports healthy skin

Pawpaw has important ingredients that promote healthy, vibrant, and youthful skin, according to studies. Due to its vitamin A and vitamin E content, the peel and pulp are used to make cosmetics or as a local therapy for renewing damaged skin and treating skin illnesses such as dry skin.

Treatment for Malaria

When boiled with neem leaves and consumed as a herbal tea, pawpaw leaves are an excellent herbal therapy for treating malaria.

Laxative

Ripe papaya is a good laxative because it helps with bowel movement. Constipation can be relieved by eating at least one entire papaya fruit.

Protect from kidney disease

Its seeds, according to researchers at the University of Karachi, can be utilised to treat kidney illness and avoid renal failure. It is particularly effective in the treatment of poisoning-related renal damage. A natural cure for kidney and bladder disorders is an infusion produced from the young and unripe fruits.

The Effects Of Pawpaw On Sperm Count