Antifertility Effects of Hydro-Alcoholic Extract of Mentha pulegium Leaves in Adult Male Rats

Background and Extensive supply of herbal products in today’s societies in normal diet or as medications necessitates conduction of toxicological, histological, and hormonal studies. Awareness of the effects of medicinal plants and their inclusion in the diet can contribute to reproductive health. Since Mentha pulegium is widely used in pharmaceutical and food industries due to its strong fragrance and beneficial therapeutic effects, this study examined the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Mentha pulegium leaves on the function of pituitary-testicular axis. In this experimental study, 40 male rats of Wistar strain weighing about 190 220 g were divided into five groups of eight. The control group received nothing, the sham group received distilled water and ethanol, and the experimental groups received 400, 800, and 1600 mg/kg b.w. hydro-alcoholic extract of Mentha pulegium leaves intraperitoneally. The experiment period was 28 days. In this study, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels showed a significant decrease compared to the control group. Furthermore, the number of spermatozoa and Leydig cells had declined in the experimental groups receiving the high dose of the extract. Histological examinations also revealed extensive degenerative changes in the germinal epithelium and spermatogenesis arrest in the experimental groups receiving the high dose of the extract. Hydro-alcoholic extract of Mentha pulegium leaves in low dose had a significant decreasing effect on plasma total testosterone, FSH, and LH levels. The effects of this extract on histological changes of testis were dose-related.