Fertility Assessment of Male Wistar Rats Orally Exposed to Chloroform Stem Extract of Portulaca Oleracea Linn. (Purslane)– An Experimental Study

Abstract

Portulaca oleracea Linn. has a history of extensive use as a medicinal plant and is frequently used by traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria.  Different parts of P. oleracea L. have been studied for their effect on the reproductive physiology of animals but there is a paucity of information on the stem as it relates to male fertility. This study, therefore, investigated the sub-chronic effect of oral administration of P.oleracea stem extract on male fertility indices (semen analysis, testosterone concentration, and testicular histology) in Wistar rats. Twenty animals were randomly divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each. Group A(Control) received 0.5 ml of olive oil(vehicle) while Groups B, C & D received 125, 250 & 500 mg/kg of extract respectively for 21 days by oral gavage. In the end, the animals were anesthetized and blood samples were collected for testosterone assay, caudal epididymis for semen analysis, and testes for histology. P.oleracea stem extract had no significant (p>0.05) effect on serum testosterone concentration, testicular histoarchitecture, and sperm viability, morphology & motility relative to control. However, there was a significant (p=0.014) reduction in the sperm cell count of rats exposed to the highest dose (500mg/kg) in relation to the control. Oral administration of P.oleracea stem extract as used in this study may harm male fertility; thus further study is recommended to ascertain if prolonged exposure will validate this finding.