JUSSIAEA REPENS L. IS A NONTOXIC ANTIGONADAL HERB – A DOSE DEPENDENT STUDY ON MALE RATS.

Abstract

Oral  administration of crude aqueous extract of Jussiaea repens L (family - Onagraceae)  to adult male albino rats of Wistar strain  at the doses of 100 mg ( low dose ,Group-II), 200 mg ( moderate dose, Group - III), and  400 mg (high dose, Group -IV)  / kg body weight /day for  28 days,  caused no significant change in body weight and organ  weights like  liver, kidney, spleen and heart but the weights of  testis and  cauda epididymis were significantly reduced in Group  - III, where the weight of adrenal gland showed significant rise in Group - IV. Epididymal sperm concentration, motility and viability were significantly  reduced  but  Sperm abnormality was markedly increased in Group - III and IV. SGOT,SGPT,ALP,ACP, Total protein, Urea  and  Creatinine  level in serum were remained unchanged  in treated groups. The fructose content of seminal vesicle and ventral prostate was reduced significantly  in Group – III. All comparisons were made against the vehicle (water) treated control.  So, the  oral  administration of aqueous extract of Jussiaea repens L may be considered as nontoxic  antifertile  agent  in male rat in a dose dependent manner.