'Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM Press)'
Abstract
Andrographis paniculata is a herbal plant in the Acanthaceae family with potential to treat diabetes and cardiovascular and as
an antifertility agent. The purpose of this study was to determine the reversible antifertility effect of methanol extract A.
paniculata on sperm quality and spermatogenesis. A total of 28 male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned into two groups;
control group (K1) and treated group (K2) with 14 rats in each group. The treated group was force-fed with a dose of 800
mg/kg for 14 days. On day 15, seven rats from each group were sacrificed. There was significant decrease (p<0.05) in sperm
count, viability and sperm motility grade in K2 compared to K1, however, the percentage of normal sperm morphology in
both groups showed no difference. Histologically, the lumens of seminiferous tubule were seen less packed with sperm and
the Leydig cells were regressed. The damaged Sertoli cells were seen and spermatogenesis was also inhibited in K2. The
study was proceeded for another 14 days without treatment to determine the reversible effect of the extract. On day 29, the
remainder seven rats from each group were sacrificed for the same parameter analysis. Data showed the sperm count, viability
and the sperm motility grade in K2 increased significantly (p<0.05). The testes histology showed that normal spermatogenesis,
seminiferous tubule filled with sperm and normal Leydig and Sertoli cells. It appeared that the methanol extract of A. paniculata
have an antifertility effect on sperm quality and possess spermatoxic feature in spermatogenesis activity and the effect was
reversible