Toxic and anti-fertility effects of Alocasia macrorrhiza and Calotropis procera ethanolic extracts on male mice

The control of rodents in agriculture, forestry,
stores, animal husbandry, poultry and in human
hygiene are of great challenge. Widespread use of
chemical rodenticides represents a potential risk to
human and environment. Therefore, the search for
alternative strategies; namely natural agents, for
rodents control is timely to overcome this problem.
This study presents Alocasia macrorrhiza and
Calotropis procera plants extracts as a potential
substitute to the chemical rodenticides. Therefore,
the toxic effects of the crude ethanolic extracts of
their leaves on liver, kidney and testis of male
Albino mice were investigated using different
biochemical and histopathological examinations.
The results indicated that both leaf extracts,
administered in a high dose (1/5 of the LD50) and for
a prolonged time (at least for 20 days), have
hepato-renal and testicular-toxic effects. In addition,
these leaf extracts were found to contain toxic
compounds including alkaloids, glycosides,
anthraqunions, flavonoids, tanines, organic acids
and toxic minerals which either inhibit or arrest the
spermatogenesis process leading to mice infertility.