Evaluation of Fertility Disrupting Potentials of
Abrus precatorius Seed
Extracts in Male Rats for Arresting Spermatogenesis and Suppressed
Fertility In Vivo
Saranika Talukder1*,Subir Sarker2, Md. Afzal Hossain3,
Md. Abu Hadi Khan4, Md. Abdul Hannan3 and
M. Tofazzal Islam5
[1]Department of Animal Science and Nutrition, Chittagong
Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chittagong-4202;
2Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science,
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205;
3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, 4Department
of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bangladesh
Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202; 5Department of Biotechnology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh.
*Corresponding author:
talukdersaranika@yahoo.com
Abstract
This study was aimed to evaluate the
contraceptive potentials of different chemical extracts of Abrus precatorius
seeds in male albino rats. The active ingredients of crushed seeds were
extracted with 60% aqueous acetone and then partitioned consecutively with n-hexane,
ethyl acetate, methanol and water. Water suspended chemical fractions at
different doses were administered orally to the male rats for 40 days. Effects
of different treatments on various male reproductive endpoints and contraceptive
efficacy were evaluated. Oral administration of both organic (methanol soluble
at 50 and 75 mg/kg BW) and aqueous soluble of A. precatorius seed
extracts caused infertility in study subjects at varying degrees. At necropsy,
average weights of testes, epididymis, ventral prostate gland and seminal
vesicles were decreased significantly. Histology of testes revealed marked
atrophy of the seminiferous tubules characterized by disruption of the germinal
epithelium and atrophy of the Leydig cells. Epididymis also showed histological
alterations. Hormonal assay revealed a significant decrease in serum level of
testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)
that possibly resulted in suppressed spermatogenesis of male rats. These effects
lead to the reduction of pregnancy rate of untreated fertile female rats while
mated with the methanol extract (50 and 75 mg/kg BW) and aqueous extract-treated
male rats. The results show that A. precatorius seed extract causes
suppression of spermatogenesis and fertility, thereby suggesting the potential
of this plant in the regulation of male fertility.