ANTI-SPERMATOGENIC EFFECT OF THEVETIA PERUVIANA LEAVES IN ALBINO RAT

This study was conducted to explore the anti-spermatogenic efficacy of hydro-methanol (2:3) extract of Thevetia peruviana leaves (TPHmLE) on rat. Rats of treatment group were orally treated with TPHmLE at the dose of 40 mg/0.25 ml DW/100 g of body weight over a period of 28 days and control group received only vehicle. The anti-fertility activity of TPHmLE was observed by significant reduction (P<0.05) of the organo-somatic indices, epididymal sperm count, motility, viability and hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test. The gonadotropins (LH, FSH), testosterone, interstitial Leydig’s cell count as well as 17β, hydroxyl steroid-dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) and Δ⁵, 3β – hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Δ⁵, 3β-HSD) activities in testis were decreased significantly in respect to control after the treatment of TPHmLE. Testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities were significantly decreased in treated group but the lipid peroxidation status was significantly elevated indicated by high thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), conjugated diene (CD) levels. From histological point of view, significant damage in germ cells of seminiferous tubule was observed by Feulgen, PAS, heamatoxylin-eosin and Sudan black stain. Activities of testicular acid phosphatase (ACP), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) that are the important metabolic toxicity indicators were not altered significantly in TPHmLE-treated group in respect to control. These results suggested that the Thevetia peruviana (TPHmLE) possess anti-spermatogenic activity by suppressing the gonadotrophins and testosterone and or by generation of oxidative free radicals that ultimately damage the germ cells and alter the spermatogenesis without any metabolic toxicity.