Anti-fertility effect of aqueous-ethanolic (1:1) extract of the fruit of Terminalia chebula: Rising approach towards herbal contraception

Objective: To explore the anti-fertility efficacy of aqueous-ethanolic (1:1) extract of fruits of Terminalia chebula (T. chebula). Methods: Aqueous-ethanolic (1:1) extract of fruit of T. chebula was administered orally at a dose of 60 mg/0.5 mL distilled water/day for 28 days. Different parameters were studied including body weight, relative weight of reproductive organ, sperm motility, sperm count, testicular cholesterol, plasma testosterone, testicular androgenic key enzymes such as Δ5, 3β-HSD and 17-β-HSD, bio-markers of oxidative stress, toxicity study and histological analysis of the tissues. Results: The treated group showed a significant diminution in spermatogenic profile. On the other hand testicular cholesterol showed a significant elevation in T. chebula treated group and plasma testosterone was decreased significantly in comparison to control. The above said androgenic key enzymes were exerted a significant diminution in extract treated group. Anti-oxidative enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase showed a significant reduction and a significant elevation in conjugated diene and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance was noted in treated group. GOT and GPT study of liver and kidney showed a non-significant change which confirmed the non-toxic nature of T. chebula. Histological study of testis of treated group exhibited significant reduction in seminiferous tubular diameter. Conclusion: The results of present experiment suggested that the aqueous-ethanolic (1:1) extract of fruit of T. chebula exerted a significant anti-spermatogenic effect in male rat.