FERTILITY ENHANCEMENT OF POLYCARPAEA CORYMBOSA (L.) LAM (CARYOPHYLLACEAE) WHOLE PLANT ON MALE ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate fertility enhancement of ethanol extract of whole plant of Polycarpaea corymbosa in male albino rats.

Methods: Two groups (Group II & III) of rats were administered orally ethanol extract of whole plant of Polycarpaea corymbosa at doses of 250 and 500mg/Kg body weight. The control group (Group I) received normal saline. After 14 days, sperm count, sperm motility, biochemical parameters, hormone levels, the number of implantation sites, the number of fetuses and the number of resorption sites were recorded.

Results: The relative weight of the testes and epididymis were increased. The epididymal sperm count, motility and sperm abnormality were increased significantly in treated rats. There was an increase in serum protein, albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine and the activity of liver marker enzymes (SGOT, SGPT and ALP) levels of treated rats. The activities of serum antioxidants (CAT, SOD, GPX, GST and GRD) in whole plant extract treated rats were increased. The results of the hormonal assay showed that increased serum levels of LH and testosterone but decreased in the serum levels of FSH and estrogen compared to control. The results of fertility test indicated that the treated adult male rats increased the number of female's impregnation. In addition, the number of implantations and the number of viable fetuses were also increased.

Conclusion: The results of the present study concluded that, ethanol extract of whole plant of Polycarpaea corymbosa enhanced sperm concentration, motility and testosterone which might produce positive result in a male fertility.

Keywords: Polycarpaea corymbosa, Fertility, Testosterone, Antioxidant