Effect of different concentrations of hydroalcoholic extract of broccoli on sperm parameters and oxidative stress factors before and after thawing in NMRI mice

Considering the importance of sperm parameters in fertility rate, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydro-alcoholic broccoli extract on sperm parameters before and after freezing in male mice. In this experimental study, 28 male NMRI mice were divided into four groups of seven. Control group have not received any treatment, while the first, second, and third experimental groups received, 100, 200 and 300 mg / kg of hydro-alcoholic broccoli extract (prepared by Maceration method) using intra-peritoneal injection for 42 days, respectively. At the end of the period, blood serum was taken from mice to measure the catalase, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde enzymes. Sperm concentration, the number of sperm, sperm viability percentage, motility, and sperm DNA fragmentation percentage were measured before and after the freezing. The lowest sperm concentration in the control group was 249 × 106 and the highest in the third experiment was 714 × 106 mio cubic meters. The highest sperm viability percentage and sperm motility in the third experiment was 96% and 98%, respectively. The reduction in the viability rate of sperm after treatment in the control group was about three to four times more than the experimental groups and these differences were significant (P = 0.005). The concentration of catalase and superoxide dismutase enzyme in the third experiment was 18.28 ± 2.66 and 56.36 ± 2.425, respectively. The difference was significant in the superoxide dismutase enzyme in other groups. The lowest concentration of malondialdehyde was found to be 96.9 ± 1.40 nonomole/ micromole and significant with the control group. The 300 mg / kg dose of broccoli extract have the best effect on fresh and freezed sperm parameters, which could be related to the antioxidant effects of the extract.