Newbouldia Laevis Enhanced Bcl-2 Expression and Germinal Epithelial Proliferation in adolescent Wistar rats

Abstract

Background: In traditional medicine, numerous plant extracts have been used as infertility treatments to enhance chances of procreation over the years. The use of Newbouldia laevis as an adjuvant has been shown in experimental animal models to have the ability to either stimulate or suppress male reproductive processes at specific dosages. This study aimed to compare the effects of graded dosages of Newbouldia laevis and zinc on male fertility.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-six male adolescent Wistar rats, weighing between 55 - 125 g were randomly divided into six groups of five rats each. They were treated with normal saline, Zinc, and Newbouldia laevis at different doses and duration, viz: low-dose short-term (LS) and high-dose short-term (HS) for a period of 28 days, and low-dose long-term (LL), and high-dose long-term (HL) for of 56 days. The semen parameters, histomorphometric analysis, and Bcl-2 expression, a protein that controls apoptosis, were studied to assess the testicular health in experimental animals.

Results: The results demonstrated that high doses of Newbouldia laevis impaired semen parameters, particularly the motility and population of sperm cells, irrespective of treatment duration. The population of germinal epithelial cells was unchanged. However, the expression of Bcl-2 was reduced in the high dose (HS and HL) groups when compared to other groups.

Conclusion/Recommendations: The study suggests that moderate use of Newbouldia laevis extract for a limited period may have beneficial effects on male fertility potential with effects comparable to those of Zinc.