Effects of oral administration of vicince and convicine isolated from fava beans [vicia fabal] on the reproductive system and apeen quality of maid mice

Daily oral administration of 5 mg/25 g body weight glycosides vicine and convicine for two weeks in male mice caused significant increase in seminal vesicle and vas deferens weight while there was no change in the weight of the prostate. Concerning the effect on semen quality, there were an increase in the percent of abnormal sperm and decrease in the percent of motile sperm. Histopathological findings revealed areas of degenerations appeared in the transverse section of the testes where edema present, seminiferous tubules showed arrest of spermatogenesis. The results of this study demonstrated that vicine and convicine when given to male mice have a prominent effect on the reproductive organs as well as the spermatogenesis