Evaluation of antifertility effect and recovery of the seed oil constituents of Iranian species of Melia azadrach L. in male rats

摘要

Background: Convenient and effective contraceptive methods have been the subject of extensive and versatile research project, during the past 50 years. In this respect, the use of active herbal constituents is one of the topics of research and investigation. Objective: In this study the antifertility activity of seed oil extract of Iranian species of Melia azadarach L. in northern district of country, on male rats, during to consecutive steps have been evaluated. Methods: The seed oil extract have been prepared according to conventional methods, and were administered orally in 50 and 100 mg/kg daily doses for 60 days. In the first step, the inhibition of fertility indices were assessed with the help of, sperm motility, sperm viability, ESR(Epididymal sperm reserves), DSP(Daily sperm production), GSI(Gonado somatic index), fertility and testosterone concentration.In the subsequent stage, 3 months after the 60th day of compounds administration, the reversibility of the a formentioned indices are determined again. Results: In the first stage, a significant reduction in fertility indices to control especially in higher dose were observed. During the next stage, the significant increase in fertility indices are the indication of reasonable recovery and reversibility of extract activity. Conclusion: In summary, the results of this study showed that its activity is reversible. Introduction In spite of considerable development in contraceptive technology, search for male antifertility agents continues to be a potential area of investigation [12,14]. Melia azaderach L. is a Iranian tree from the Meliaceae family that it found in north of Iran, from Lahijan to Gorgan[11]. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of M. azaderach L. seed oil on fertility parameters of male rats, during consecutive steps. Materials and Methods 1- Animals: Adult male wistar rats( 260 ± 20 gr body weight ) were provided by the animal house of science faculty of Tehran university. Animals were maintained in plastic cages, under controlled temperature( 25 ± 2o C ) and light(12L , 12D ).2- Plant extract: seeds of M. azaderach L. are collected from Gorgan area and has been identified and deposited in the herbarium of pharmacognozy department of Tehran university (number of herbarium: 6640teh ). Seeds were crushed and pulverized. 500 grams of the seeds powder were macerated with 1.5 litter of %70 Ethanol and was then filtered. The crude extract was obtained after removal of the solvent through vacuum distillation ( 60o C ). Above process repeated for twice and extract oil was stored at 0'C.3- Treatments: male rats of proven fertility were divided at random into 3 groups of 12 animals each. Group 1: Control animals received maize oil. Group 2: treated 50 mg/kg/day for 60 days. Groups 3: treated 100 mg/kg/day for 60 days. All animals received extract and maize oil through oral administration4- Evaluation of parameters: Because that aim of this investigation was evaluation of antifertility effects and recovery period, 24 hours after the last dose, animals of groups( n = 12 ) divided into 2 groups( n = 6 ).Study of fertility parameters in 2 stages were equal. First stage, 24 hours after last dose and second stage, 3 month after the last dose. In each stages, each male was caged separatedly with 2 coeval females of proven fertility in the evening for 6 days. Presence of sperms in the vaginal smears examined on the next day morning indicated that the females had mated to the particular male and the day of mating was taken to be day 1 of pregnancy[6]. In each stages after animals were sacrificed. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture and serum was separated. Reproductive organ (example: Epididymis weight and Testes weight) were dissected out and weighted and parameters studied:Body weights of animals were recorded every week during treatment and before the experiments. Sperm motility and sperm viability were assessed by the method of Prasad et al[8].Epi