Evaluating the antifertility potential of the ethanol extracts of Heliotropium europaeum and Taraxacum serotinum in male rats

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of Taraxacum serotinum and Heliotropium europaeum extracts on reproductive organs and fertility of male rats. The study was divided into three groups of rats. The first group received vehicle alone to serve as control. The second and third groups of animals were administered the ethanol extracts of T. serotinum and H. europaeum, respectively. Each extract was given orally at 3 dose levels; 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg for a period of 7 weeks. Sperm motility, count, viability and morphology and serum levels of testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), leutinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin were assessed. Percentage of mating and fertility success and fertility index were also calculated. The testes, liver and kidney were processed for histological examination. The effect on biochemical parameters like aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, and creatinine were estimated. Hematological profiles such as red blood cell (RBC) count, total leucocyte count (TLC), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and packed cell volume (PCV) were quantified. The results of this study suggest that the ethanol extract of H. europaeum possesses potential fertility lowering effects without altering general body metabolism.