INVESTIGATION OF THE POTENTIAL ANTI-FERTILITY ACTIVITY OF ARBUTUS PAVARII IN MALE MICE

Plants rich in flavonoids arc widely studied as fertility regulators. Thus, the aim of the study was to examine the impact of flavonoid-rich extract from the leaves of Arbutus pavarii (A. pavarii) plant on the reproductive system of adult male Swiss albino mice. Twenty mice (20 +/- 3 g) were included in this study; they were later grouped into four groups (n = 5/group) and were orally administered with three doses, that is, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight (bw) of extract and vehicle for 28 days, while the remaining group served as the control. On the 29th day, the mice were sacrificed; collected were blood and testis samples, and these were utilized for biochemical, histopalhological, sperm parameters, oxidative stress status. and morphometric analysis. The tested extracts at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg bw were observed to induce a significant decline in the sperm count, motility, and testicular level of total antioxidant status as well an increase in the testicular oxidative stress biomarkers. while the group treated with 1000 mg/kg bw showed a less pronounced effect. Histological analysis exhibited the disorganization of seminiferous tubule and a reduced spermatocyte number. Thus, our findings showed that extracts from the A. pavarii plant may induce spermicidal activity and interfere with testicular structures, ultimately leading to the spermatogenic arrest.