Antifertility effect of chronically administered Tabernaemontana divaricata leaf extract on male rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the antifertility effect of chronically administered Tabernaemontana divaricata (T. divaricata) leaf extract on male rats.


METHODS
The effect of 50% ethanol extract of T. divaricata leaves on reproduction was studied on male rats. The study was divided into four groups of five animals each. The first groups (I) received vehicle alone to serve as control. The second, third and fourth groups (II, II and IV) of animals were administered the leaf extract daily at 50 mg/kg body weight, p.o.,100 mg/kg body weight, p.o., and 200 mg/kg body weight, p.o., respectively, for a period of 60 days.


RESULTS
Significant decreases in the weight of testes, epididymis, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate were observed. A dose related reduction in the testicular sperm count, epididymal sperm count and motility, number of fertile male, ratio between delivered and inseminated females and numbers of pups were observed. The testis showed a clear correlation between the dose and severity of lesions of seminiferous epithelium. In general, the seminiferous tubules appear reduced in size with a frequently filled eosinophilic material. Spermatogenesis arrested at the secondary spermatocyte stage. Pachytene spermatocytes were undergoing degeneration. Disorganigation and sloughing of immature germ cell were visible. Leydinf cells were atrophied. No morphological changes were observed in Sertoli cells. Significant reduction in serum concentration of luteinizing hormone and testosterone were observed. No distinct change in serum FSH concentration was recorded. The final body weights of all groups were elevated markedly. No alterations were recorded in any hematologiocal parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that the 50% ethanol extract of T. divaricata leaf produced dose related effect on male reproduction without altering general body metabolism.
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, IPS Academy, Rajendra Nagar, Indore (MP), India. sachin225819@rediffmail.com
Sachin
S
Jain
Ankit
A
Jain
Pritesh
P
Paliwal
Shailendra Singh
SS
Solanki
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D030014:Tabernaemontana; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010936:Plant Extracts