Effect of Lepidium sativum Aqueous Crude Extract in Some Fertility Parameters in Mice

The uses of traditional plant extract in the treatment of various diseases have been flourished. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of Lepidium sativum aqueous extract on the fertility criteria in male mice. Forty-eight mice used in this experiment divided into four groups (12 mice each group). Group 1 (Control), group 2 treated with L. sativum aqueous extract for 2 weeks, group 3 treated with the sulpiride drug to conduct over weight and hyperprolactinemia for 6 weeks and finally group 4 treated with the sulpiride drug for 6 weeks and then with L. sativum aqueous extract for 2 weeks. The results show that the weight does not change over the first three weeks, but there is a significant increase in body weight at the fourth week, especially in the groups (3 and 4). The groups treated with the drug sulpiride showed body weight higher than that of the control group. The group treated with both, drug and LS was showed the higher level of LH, while the group which was treated with LS only showed the higher level of FSH. Prolactin showed its lowest level in the group treated only with LS extract when compared with treated groups. Testosterone showed the higher level in the group treated only with LS extract. The group treated with the drug sulpiride and have a high level of prolactin showed a decline in all the parameters related to infertility. This group had the lowest sperm count (53.33 1.76) sperm/ml, motility (33.33 3.33) % and viability (46.67 1.67) %, in comparison to other groups. In general, there is a significant difference in all the parameters comparison with control group. The group treated with sulpiride drug and has high level of prolactin, showed a decline in all the parameters related with infertility. On the other hand, all the infertility parameters enhanced in the hyperprolactenimic animals which were treated with LS extract. In general there are significant differences in all the parameters comparison with control group. Histological sections for the testis in the group treated with LS only showed a look-like normal appearance of seminiferous tubule with presence of high number of sperms, while sections of hyperprolactinemic mice testis showed partial degeneration and damage of dispersed spermatogonia cells with still presence of sperms inside the lumen with certain morphological abnormality in the shape of the sperms. Sections of treated mice testis showed a look like normal shape and structure of seminiferous tubules with the presence of normal morphology shape sperms in the lumen. The findings of this study highlight the usefulness of using local and easily available plant products and constituents in treating or preventing diseases. The findings are encouraging and warrant further work on the aqueous extract of L. Sativum seeds and its effects on infertility.