Effect of Peganum harmala Total Alkaloid Extract on Sexual Behavior and Sperm Parameters in Male Mice

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In recent years, special attention has been paid to studies on the effect of various plants on reproduction using laboratory animals. It is known that one of the major problems in a couple’s life is infertility and sperm dysfunction. Many species of plants in the Mediterranean area have been used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries, such as P. harmala, which represents one of several plants that constitute a source of natural substances. The results of this study indicate that the extract of P. harmala at a high concentration seems to have more of an effect on sexual behavior in male mice. In the current study, the high concentration of P. harmala alkaloid extract improved the sperm count in the treated mice in comparison with the control group. However, no difference was recorded in sperm motility in the treated groups. The results revealed that the membrane integrity of the spermatozoa seemed to be stable in the treated male. However, seminal fructose and testosterone concentrations slightly increased in all groups. Based on the results of this study, it seems that the extract of P. harmala growing in Algeria can affect some reproductive indices, such as the gonadosomatic index and sperm count. ABSTRACT: The study was designed to evaluate the effects of the total alkaloid extract of Algerian Peganum harmala seeds on sexual behavior and male reproductive function. After two weeks of acclimatization, the male mice were randomly divided into four groups (seven mice in each group). For 35 days, the extract was administered orally at dose levels of 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg body weight per day to the respective groups of male mice (n = 7) and normal saline daily to the control group. On day 28, sexual behavior parameters were recorded. At the end of the trial, reproductive organ weights, sperm quality, seminal fructose, and testosterone hormone levels were evaluated. The three treated groups were compared with the control using statistical variance analysis (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.05), followed by Tukey’s test. The results of the groups treated with 12.5 and 6.25 mg/kg of P. harmala alkaloid revealed the MF and IF parameters to be the lowest compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, the male mice treated with 25 mg/kg recorded the highest values. A low significant value of ML was observed in the group treated with 25 mg/kg of the total alkaloid extract of P. harmala compared to the control group (p < 0.01), while a rise was observed in the concentration group treated with 6.25 mg/kg. Regarding IL, the male mice treated with different concentrations of the total alkaloid extract of P. harmala recorded a higher time than the control group. Moreover, an increase in the gonadosomatic index was noticed in all groups compared to the control group. However, there was a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in the sperm counts of the groups treated with 12.5 mg/kg and 6.25 mg/kg. However, there was no significant difference in the motility, membrane integrity, and total antioxidant capacity of sperm cells compared to the control. The extract treatment also brought about a non-significant increase in fructose content of the seminal vesicle and serum testosterone level. The findings of this study demonstrate that the extract acts in a dose-dependent manner, and it has varying effects on the reproductive parameters of male mice.