Study of the Efects of Ruta Graveolens Aqueos Extract Effects on the Spermatogenesis of Mature Wistar Rat

Nowadays men hava accepted their role in pregnancy prevention. Some of these methods are non-hormonal. In non-hormonal methods plants are used. Ruta graveolens is one of these plants. This plant grows in Iran and was used as a contraceptive plant in the ancient medicine in both sexes. In this study the effect of aqueous extract of this plant on the time of rat spermatogenesis on testis tissue has been investigated.

In this experimental study 30 rats allocated randomly to three groups (n=10) as control which did not receive anything، vehicle which received only normal saline، and experimental which received ruta extract. Lethal dose 50 (LD50) extract was considered as 620 mg/kg. Based on this، sub LD 50 dose of aqueous extract 300mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally once every other day for 40 days. A day after last injection the animals were deeply anesthetized and dissected. The right testis were extruded and fixed for histological studies. For statistical analysis ANOVA and Tukey as a post hoc test were used.

Intraperitoneal injection of 300mg/kg Ruta graveolens showed a significant decrease in the number of spermatogonia، primary spermatocyte، spermatid، lydig cell in experimental group as compared to control and vehicle. Also there were a significant increase in thickness of tunica albugina and a decrease in somniferous tubule diameter (p=0. 01).

The aqueous extract of R. G diminishes the reproductive system activity and might be a useful substance for birth control process.