Abstract
Plumbagin (2-methyl-5-hydroxy, 1:4naphthoquinone), the active ingredient isolated from the root of Plumbago zeylanica, have significant antioxidant abilities. The roots of Plumabago zeylanica were boiled as concoction and taken orally by women in the rural areas of Malaysia for contraception, however there were no reports of men consuming the same concoction to reduce fertility. As Plumbago zeylanica have high antioxidant activities and NO acts as an antioxidant in lipid peroxidation, this study was therefore undertaken to examine the effects of feeding plumbagin on various sperm parameters (sperm count, sperm motility and nitric oxide NO levels in blood plasma) of mature male Balb/C mice as well as the relationship between NO levels with sperm count and motility. Twenty-one sexually mature male mice (Balb/C) were randomly divided into three groups (initial control, positive control and low dose groups). The treatment group (low dose) was forced-fed with 0.34mg/ml of plumbagin for four weeks, whereas the initial control group with water and control group 1ml olive oil. Caudal epididymides and cardiac blood from initial control group was collected one week before starting treatment while for control and low dose groups, is after four weeks. Sperm analyses such as sperm motility, sperm count and NO level in plasma were carried out. Pre-treatment and post-treatment results were compared. The results obtained showed oral consumption of plumbagin exerted a significant (p<0.05) effect in decreasing sperm motility and sperm count in low dose group (0.34mg/ml). This experiment also showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in NO levels with plumbagin consumption. The levels of NO were significantly correlated (r=0.586) to plumbagin consumption. There was also a significant (p<0.05) negative correlation (r=-0.632) between NO levels with sperm count and sperm motility. Thus, data suggests that oral consumption of plumbagin increases NO levels, which in turn decrease sperm count and motility.
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