Comparative Modulatory Assessment of the Sperm Quality and Testicular Function by Solvent Fractions of the Cannabis Extract in Rats

Background: The bioactive ingredients present in medicinal plants have various pharmacological activities which have explored for therapeutic and management of disease conditions like infertility. Objective: This study evaluated the comparative modulations on semen quality and testicular function in the rat by solvents soluble portions of ethanolic leaf extract in varying polar solvents. Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were randomly placed into five groups (A, B, C, D, E and F) with five rats per group: A, control: 0.2 ml 2 % DMSO was administered, B (vitamin C): 90 mg/kg body weight, 4.4 mg/kg body weight of n-hexane, 3.65 mg/kg body weight of ethyl acetate, 0.52 mg/kg body weight of n-butanol and 0.18 mg/kg body weight of the residual portion of Cannabis leaf extract were given to groups C, D, E and F, respectively. The rats were sacrificed 24 hours after the last day of 60 days of treatment. Results: Sperm indices, testosterone, FSH, LH, and HDL showed significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) across the treatment groups compared to normal control. Similarly, there was a significant increase in activity (p ≤ 0.05) of ALP, ACP, SOD, and CAT across the treatment groups compared to normal control. In addition, there were significant increases in GSH, MDA, triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein concentration levels across the treatment groups compared to normal control. The n-butanol soluble portion showed normal histomorphology with typical seminiferous tubule with spermatogonia lying on the basement membrane. Conclusion: Testicular integrity and improved sperm quality were pronounced in rats administered n-butanol solvent portion.