Antifertility Effects of Chronically Administered Malvaviscus conzattii Flower Extract on Male Albino Mice

Abstract

The antifertility effects of alcoholic extract of Malvaviscus conzattii flowers were observed on male albino mice after oral administration of 30 and 50 doses (one dose = 50 mg/day/mouse). The genital degenerative changes were found to be more pronounced when the results were observed after oral administration of 50 doses. The drug administration resulted in mass atrophy of the spermatogenic elements and the testicular stages were left with only 1-2 cell layers. Epididymal epithelium was regressed and the lumina were either devoid of spermatozoa or contained its debris. The flower extract treatment produced a significant decrease in absolute weights of testes, epididymes, vas deferens and seminal vesicles. Administration of 50 doses produced a significant reduction in levels of protein (P < 0.001; P < 0.001 and P < 0.001) and sialic acid (P < 0.005; P < 0.005 and P < 0.001) of testes, epididymes and seminal vesicle respectively. Glyceryl phosphoryl choline of epididymes also reduced (P < 0.001) significantly at 50 doses. In contrast, the contents of cholesterol (P < 0.001) and glycogen (P < 0.001) were elevated when observed after 50 doses. Alkaline phosphatase activity in testes, epididymes and seminal vesicles remained within normal range. Fructose of seminal vesicles was reduced (P < 0.001) significantly at 30 doses, then attained normaly after 50 doses. Reduced androgen production was reflected in low levels of sialic acid and protein in testes, epididymes and seminal vesicles. In conclusion, the administration of M. conzattii flower extract caused an effective impairment of spermatogenesis in albino mice after 50 doses, thus inducing an antifertility state.

Key Word Index

Malvaviscus conzattii - Malvaceae - Antispermatogenic Effect - Testes - Epididymes - Vas deferens - Seminal vesicles - Weights - Histology - Biochemistry