Fertility Enhancing Effect of Saponin Rich Butanol Extracts of Tribulus terrestris Fruits in Male Albino Rats

Abstract

The fertility ability of saponin rich butanol extracts of Tribulus terrestris fruits against 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p dioxin (TCDD) induced infertility in male albino rats were examined. The rats were injected with 40μg TCDD/kg for one week. After ensuring the oligospermic condition the animals were divided into 5 groups, namely, Group I (Normal control) was administered only with the vehicle (2% CMC suspension). Group II served as negative control received TCDD alone. Groups III-IV was treated with SFTT at 200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg respectively. Group V served as standard and treated with clomiphene 10mg/kg. Drugs were administered daily using oral dosing needle continually up to 28 days. The administration of the SFTT for 28 days significantly (P 0.01) increased the relative weights of the total body weight as well as reproductive organs. The SFTT caused significant (P 0.01) increases in sperm motility, sperm count and sperm morphology. The SFTT treatment also reduced the levels of FSH and LH .It subsequently increased the level of testosterone values. The haematological and biochemical parameters were also investigated which revealed that there is a significant difference in the creatinine and serum cholesterol values. These results suggest that SFTT might be a potential agent offering protection against the development of TCDD-induced infertility.