The study aim is to investigate the free radicals scavenging and spermatogenic potentials, as well as to analyze any reproductive toxicity of ethanolic extract of Mucuna prureins (M. pruriens) Linn. in spermatozoa, under different dosages in normal male rat. Normal rats were randomly selected and suspension of the extract was administered orally at the dosages of 150, 200 and 250 mg/kg body weight of the different groups of male rats (n=6) once in a day for 60 days and grouped as group II, III and IV respectively. Saline treated rats served as control -group I. On the 60th day the animals were sacrificed and the epididymal sperm were subjected to various analyses like level of ROS production, LPO, enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidant, morphology, morphometry, chromosomal integrity and DNA damage. Results showed significant reduction in ROS production and peroxidation and significant increase in both enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants in all concentration treated groups when compared with control. Results from all the drug treated groups showed good sperm morphology, increased sperm count and motility. There was no DNA damage and showed normal chromosomal integrity even in 250 mg/kg dose. When compared with control all the three extract treated groups showed increased ROS scavenging activity. However, group II (200 mg/kg) showed significant changes in all the parameters. From the present study it was confirmed that the M. pruriens has potential to improve the sperm qualitatively and quantitatively through scavenging the excess ROS with any adverse side effects. These observations suggest that ethanolic seed extract of M. pruriens may serve as anti-oxidant that can exploit to treat the oxidative stress mediated male factor infertility.

ABSTRACT   INTRODUCTION   MATERIAL AND METHODS    Animals    Drug Preparations    Sperm Analysis (Sperm Count, Motility, Morphology and Morphometry)    Estimation of ROS and LPO    Estimation of Enzymic and Non-enzymatic Antioxidant    Sperm Analysis (Sperm Count, Motility, Morphology and Morphometry)    Single Cell Electrophoresis (Comet Assay)    Sperm Chromosomal Integrity Study (Acridine Orange Staining)    Statistical Analysis   RESULTS    Sperm Analysis (Sperm Count, Motility, Morphology and Morphometry)    Estimation of ROS and LPO    Estimation of Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant    Comet Assay for DNA Damage and Chromatin Integrity   DISCUSSION   REFERENCES

• Sekar Suresh(Department of Anatomy, Dr. Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Division of Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Institute of Animal science, Rural Development Administration)
• Ealumali Prithiviraj(Department of Anatomy, Dr. Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus)
• Nagella Venkatalakshmi(Department of Anatomy, Dr. Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus)
• Mohanraj Karthik Ganesh(Department of Anatomy, Dr. Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus)
• Lakshmanan Ganesh(Department of Anatomy, Dr. Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus)
• Hyun-Jeong Lee(Division of Animal Genomics and Bioinformatics, National Institute of Animal science, Rural Development Administration)
• Seppan Prakash(Department of Anatomy, Dr. Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus) Corresponding author