Therapeutic effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of water spinach leaf against toxicity following Busulfan administration on fertility parameters in male rats; A randomized controlled clinical trial study

Busulfan drug for cancer treatment, due to the oxidation properties and free radicals production, causes disturbance on male fertility parameters, and leaves water spinach plant have antioxidant features. The current study was aimed to evaluate the effect of water spinach leaf on recovery of male genital injuries caused by Busulfan.

This randomized controlled clinical trial was performed on 48 male rats of Wistar race in 2019. The specimens were divided into 8 groups including; normal saline, Busulfan, water spinach leaf extract with doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg, extract + Busulfan. Daily treatment for 2 months was administered intraperitoneally. Sperm parameters by colorimetric techniques and light microscopy, level of testis malondialdehyde by spectrophotometry, total antioxidant capacity and testosterone by ELISA method, and height of germinal layer through optical microscopy and Motic software were evaluated. Data analysis was applied by SPSS software (version 20) and Tukey post-hoc test. P< 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The values of sperm parameters, testosterone hormone, and total antioxidant capacity were significantly decreased in negative control group than positive control (P < 0.01). Treatment by extract and extract + Busulfan in all doses significantly increased whole mentioned parameters compared to the negative control group (P < 0.01). In evaluated parameters in extract group alone, no significant changes were observed compared to the positive control group (P > 0.05).

Leaf extract of water spinach plant increases the sperm quality and improves the Busulfan-induced adverse effects on male reproductive parameters.