ABSTRACT
Azadirachta indica treatment for 24 days in albino rats resulted in a decrease in the total sperm count, sperm motility, and forward velocity in vas deferens fluid. The percentage of abnormal sperm increased and the fructose content decreased. As diminished levels of fructose parallel androgen deficiency, we conclude that reduced androgen levels resulting from the anti-androgenic property of A. indica leaves probably influences the physiological maturation of sperm.
Subject(s)
Azadirachta/adverse effects , Fructose/chemistry , Spermatozoa/drug effects , Vas Deferens/chemistry , Administration, Oral , Androgen Antagonists/administration & dosage , Androgen Antagonists/chemistry , Androgens/chemistry , Animals , Injections, Intramuscular , Male , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plant Extracts/adverse effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacokinetics , Plant Leaves/adverse effects , Plants, Medicinal/adverse effects , Rats , Sperm Count , Sperm Motility/drug effects , Spermatozoa/abnormalities , Testosterone/administration & dosage , Testosterone/pharmacokinetics , Vas Deferens/drug effects , Vas Deferens/physiologyABSTRACT
Treatment of albino rats with a benzene extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves (250 mg/kg body weight) for 48 d decreased total sperm count, sperm motility, and forward velocity. The percentage of abnormal sperm increased in caudal epididymal fluid, and the fructose content decreased in the caudal plasma of the epididymis and the seminal vesicles. The results suggest that such effects are due to androgen deprivation, caused by the anti-androgenic property of O. sanctum leaves. The effect was reversible because all parameters returned to normal 2 wk after the withdrawal of treatment.
Subject(s)
Fructose/metabolism , Infertility, Male/chemically induced , Ocimum/toxicity , Spermatozoa/drug effects , Animals , Benzene/chemistry , Epididymis/drug effects , Epididymis/metabolism , Female , Male , Ocimum/chemistry , Organ Size , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plant Leaves/toxicity , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal/toxicity , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Semen/drug effects , Semen/metabolism , Sperm Count , Sperm Motility/drug effects , Testis/drug effects , Testis/pathologyABSTRACT
Azadirachta indica treatment for 48 days In albino rats resulted in a decrease in the total sperm count, sperm motility, and forward velocity. The percentage of abnormal sperm increased and the fructose content of caudal semen of the epididymis decreased. The observations suggest that these effects are probably due to an androgen deficiency, caused by the anti-androgenic property of the leaves of A. indica, thereby affecting the physiological maturation of sperm.
