Chauhan Alka, Agarwal Meera, Kushwaha Sonalika, Mutreja Anju
Department of Zoology, Reproductive Physiology and Biochemistry Section, Center for Advanced Studies, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302 004, India.
Contraception. 2007 Dec;76(6):474-81. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2007.08.002. Epub 2007 Nov 9.
Plants have served as a natural source of antifertility substances. The reactivated interest in the evaluation of some lead plants for fertility prompted us to undertake studies on the antifertility potential of Aegle marmelos leaves.
Fifty percent ethanolic extract from the leaves of A. marmelos (AMLEt) was prepared. The effect of A. marmelos leaf extract on the reproductive system of male albino rats was investigated at three different doses, namely, 100, 200 and 300 mg(-1) kg (-1) day(-1) for each rat for 60 days. Recovery was also investigated after a withdrawal of 120 days.
All the major accessory sex organs shed weight postadministration of the extract. There was a marked reduction in motility and density of the sperm derived from cauda epididymis of the treated animals. A. marmelos reduced fertility of male rats by 100% at the 300-mg dose level. Serum testosterone levels also decreased significantly in all the experimental groups. The protein, glycogen and lipid peroxidation content of the testes was significantly reduced at the highest dose level; a highly significant increase in testicular cholesterol was observed along with a highly significant reduction in the sialic acid contents of testes, epididymis and seminal vesicles. Blood tests did not point to distress in any of the vital organs. Withdrawal of the extract restored all the altered parameters including organ weights, fertility, testosterone levels and tissue biochemistry to control levels after 120 days.
Taken together, it is inferred that the leaf extract of A. marmelos (AMLEt) suppresses fertility in male rats. Complete recovery of fertility was observed following the withdrawal of drug. Absence of any deleterious effect on the vital organs points to the safe use of the extract.
植物一直是抗生育物质的天然来源。对一些潜在植物进行生育力评估的兴趣再度兴起，促使我们对木苹果叶的抗生育潜力展开研究。
制备了木苹果叶50%的乙醇提取物（AMLEt）。以100、200和300毫克/千克体重/天这三种不同剂量，对雄性白化大鼠的生殖系统进行了60天的研究。在停药120天后，还对恢复情况进行了研究。
提取物给药后，所有主要附属生殖器官均出现重量减轻。处理组动物附睾尾部精子的活力和密度显著降低。在300毫克剂量水平时，木苹果使雄性大鼠的生育力降低了100%。所有实验组的血清睾酮水平也显著下降。在最高剂量水平时，睾丸的蛋白质、糖原和脂质过氧化含量显著降低；睾丸胆固醇显著增加，同时睾丸、附睾和精囊的唾液酸含量显著降低。血液检测未显示任何重要器官出现异常。停药120天后，提取物所改变的所有参数，包括器官重量、生育力、睾酮水平和组织生物化学指标均恢复至对照水平。
综合来看，可以推断木苹果叶提取物（AMLEt）会抑制雄性大鼠的生育力。停药后观察到生育力完全恢复。对重要器官无任何有害影响表明该提取物可安全使用。
