P-62: Aloe Vera Decreases Male Rat Fertility In Vivo

Background: Interests in natural products are being subjected to scientific method of testing. The use of Aloe Vera cuts across barriers of time and culture in the treatment of a broad range of illnesses. The basis of its reputation resides mainly with steadfast belief in claims of its curative properties, but without hard scientific evidence. Materials and Methods: Thirty three adult male rats were divided into three groups. Experimental groups received Aloe Vera aqueous leaf extract orally for 60 days in two different sublethal doses; of 60 mg/kg, and 120 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Aloe Vera respectively; while, the control received equal volume of distilled water for the duration of a complete spermatogenic cycle. Results: The administration of the aqueous extract of of Aloe Vera aqueous leaf extract resulted in a significant decrease in testis weight in the two experimental groups in comparison to the control group but had no effect on body or organ weight. The extract of this plant caused a decrease of the following in the two experimental groups, compared to the control group: sperm count, motility and normal morphology, pregnancy rate and diameter and wall thickness of seminiferous tubules. Also, distortion of morphology of the seminiferous tubules and arrest in spermatogenesis was observed in the experimental groups. In addition, the percentage of sperm with damaged chromatin integrity was significantly higher in the two experimental groups. Conclusion: From the present study, we can conclude that Aloe Vera aqueous leaf extract acts as an anti-fertility agent rather than other herbalists.