Abstract
Fenugreek was evaluated for its effects on reproductive, cytological and biochemical toxicity in mice. On the basis of evaluated maximum tolerated dose (MTD; 9.77 g/kg), the present doses selected for sub-chronic (90 days) treatment were 153, 305 and 610 mg/kg/day by oral gavage corresponding to 1/64, 1/32 and 1/16, of MTD, respectively. Total sperm count, motility and spermatozoa morphology was screened. Cytological changes in testicular chromosomes and pregnancy rate in untreated females after mating with treated males were estimated. In testicular cells, total proteins, nucleic acids, malondialdehyde (MDA) and non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) and serum hormonal levels were estimated. The fenugreek treatment particularly with higher dose caused significant changes in the percent motility, sperm count, spermatozoa morphology, chromosomal aberrations, rate of pregnancy and pre-implantation loss. Male fertility was decreased in higher treated doses. In testicular cells, nucleic acids and NP-SH were depleted while MDA levels increased. In conclusion, fenugreek administration at higher dose induced toxicity including teratogenic, foetotoxic, reproductive changes and the abnormal shapes of the sperms. In view of the observed oxidant potentials, present study paves a path to further investigate its clinical effects on reproductive system. Key words: Fenugreek; reproductive toxicity; spermatozoa; sperm count; oxidative stress.
Highlights
Percent sperm motility was significantly reduced in mice treated with fenugreek by medium (P
After sub-chronic treatment with higher dose of fenugreek, a significant increase was found in the mean dead implants per pregnant female mice (P
Sub-chronic treatment with high dose (610 mg/kg/day) of fenugreek resulted in significant (P
Summary
The dried ripe seeds, leaves and their extracts from Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) have been extensively used as a source of anti-diabetic (Thakran et al, 2004; Kumar et al, 2005; Baquer et al, 2011), hypocholesterolaemic (Abdel-Barry et al, 1997), antifungal (Haouala et al, 2008), anti-bacterial (Sudar and Kirti, 2006), immunomodulatory (Ramesh et al, 2002; Bin-Hafeez et al, 2003), anti-inflammatory and antipyretic (Ahmadiani et al, 2001). Fenugreek has traditionally been considered safe and well tolerated, some toxic effects have been associated with its use such as transient diarrhea, flatulence, mild hepatitis and dizziness (Abdel-Barry and Al-Hakiem, 2000). It has been considered as allergenic (Faeste et al, 2009) and anti-fertility in rabbits (Kassem et al, 2006). Fenugreek seeds have been shown to possess estrogenic activity that disturbs the endometrial lining system and interferes with fetal development (Kassem et al, 2006; Sreeja et al, 2010), prominent congenital disorders including hydrocephalus, anencephaly, cleft palate and spina bifida were reported among women who consumed fenugreek seeds during pregnancy (Skalli, 2006). Aswar et al (2010) have reported that furostanol glycosides fraction of fenugreek did not change testosterone level and angrogenic activity in rats
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