Potential of Leaves of Water Mimosa (Neptunia plena) in Increasing Spermatogenesis Activity of Male Rat

Abstract

Neptunia plena is one of a plant that includes water mimosa. The leaves of this plant contain steroids, saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids that may increase testosterone hormone. One function of the testosterone is to increase the activity of spermatogenesis. The purpose of this study was to obtain scientific evidence about the potential of N. plena leaves in increasing the spermatogenesis activity of male rats to get natural fertility enhancer ingredients. This study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with a negative control treatment (Na- CMC 0.5%), and the groups were treated with ethanol extracts of N. plena leaves each at a dose of 87.5; 175; and 350 mg kg−1 body weight rat. Male rat was treated orally 2 mL 200-250 g−1 body weight for 14 days. On day 15, all rats were sacrificed by neck dislocation, dissected, testicular organs were taken, weighed, and microanatomy preparations made using paraffin and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. The parameter can be observed from the spermatogenesis activity, such as testicles weight, testicles tubules seminiferous diameter, and the number of spermatogenic cell layers. The result showed that N. plena leaves had the potential to increase the spermatogenesis activity of male rats.