Contraceptive Efficacy of Citrullus colocynthis Methanolic Extract in Male Rats

To study the effects of Citrullus colocynthis on testicular function and fertility, 70% methanolic extract of C. colocynthis was fed orally to male albino rats at the dose levels of 75 and 150 mg/kg body wt/day for 60 days. Oral administration of C. colocynthis caused a significant decrease in testicular weight and sperm concentration. The level of serum testosterone, LH and FSH also declined and spermatogenesis was impaired. The histoarchitecture of the testes in the rats receiving C. colocynthis methanolic extract showed degenerative changes and disruption of spermatogenesis and the number of spermatogonia remained significantly decreased. Thus the antifertility effects of C. colocynthis seemed to be mediated by disturbances in structure and testicular function including leydig and Sertoli cells resulting in an alteration in physio-morphological events of spermatogenesis.

Author(s): Aksha Sharma, Priyanka Sharma, Mridula Chaturvedi3 and Suresh C. Joshi

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