Antifertility potential of the extracts of <i>Aloe barbadensis</i> Miller on the testes and reproductive hormones of male rats

Abstract

There is a plethora of effective female contraceptives with varied efficacy, usability, and acceptability levels but not for males, who have condoms with a high failure rate and vasectomy with poor reversibility. This study was to determine the antifertility potential of the extracts of Aloe barbadensis as a herbal contraceptive for males. Gel and aqueous leaf extracts of Aloe barbadensis were administered orally to thirty-five sexually matured albino male rats for 30 days, to determine their effects on the reproductive hormones and histopathology of the testes. The animals were divided into 7 groups A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Each group was for a treatment regimen having 5 rats. Group A, the Control, was given a normal ration and water. Groups B, C, and D were administered 10mg/kg, 30mg/kg, and 70mg/kg of fresh A. barbadensis gel daily for 30 days while groups E, F, and G were administered 10mg/kg, 30mg/kg, and 70mg/kg of aqueous leaf extract respectively. A significant reduction in testosterone levels (p<0.05), insignificant reduction in follicle-stimulating hormone levels, and an increase in luteinizing hormone levels that were also not significant (p>0.05) were observed. Histopathological alterations of disrupted cytoarchitecture, absence of Leydig cells, and scanty spermatozoa in the lumen of seminiferous tubules were observed in the tissues of the testes of the treated groups of rats, and as such the extracts may be possible effective natural antifertility agents for males although, toxic constituents of the plant extracts should be screened out before it is allowed for consumption.