Toxic effects of water/alcoholic extract of Syzygium aromaticum on sperm quality, sex hormones and reproductive tissues in male mouse

Abstract

Syzygium aromaticum was considered as an aphrodisiac agent; however, it may cause some side effects. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of Syzygium aromaticum extract on male reproductive system. To do this, forty male mice were divided into 5 groups: negative control was fed with vehicle, positive control was fed with aphridite and three experimental groups were fed with 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day of water/alcohol extract of S. aromaticum for 34 days. The sperm count and motility and also the sex hormones level were assessed. The reproductive tissues were prepared histologically and studied under the light microscope. The results indicated the high dose-treated animals showed a significant decline in sperm count, motility and testosterone but a significant increase in estradiol concentration compared with the control group. The seminiferous tubules of extract-treated animals contained fewer sperms than in those of control animals. It seems that in spite of aphrodiastic activity of the Syzygium aromaticum extract, it reduced spermatogenesis. Keywords: Reproduction, Syzygium aromaticum, Sperm