Effects of Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) on the reproduction of male mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract

The effects of Moringa oleifera Lam. on the reproduction in male mice were studied. Twenty four male ICR mice divided equally into four groups were administered with the hexane extract of the leaves of M. oleifera by gavage at doses of 0.5, 5 and 50 mg/30 g BW daily for 21 days. The vehicle corn oil was used as control. Data on body weights, weights of reproductive organs, diameter of seminiferous tubule, stage of maturity, and levels of serum luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were obtained and analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. Significant findings were: increased weights of testis (at medium and high doses); epididymis (at all doses); seminal vesicle (at the high dose) and also increased seminiferous tubule diameter (at all doses); increased thickness of epididymal wall (at medium and high doses); higher score for lumen formation (at the high dose) and epididymal maturity (at all doses). No significant effects on the level of the 2 hormones were obtained. Key words: Moringa oleifera, reproductive organs, epididymal maturity, LH and FSH levels, antioxidant system, spermatogenesis.