Cytogenetic effect of capparis spinosaand rumex acetosella extracts on male mice germinal cells and sperm morphology

Abstract EN

This study deals with the cytogenetic effects and sperm head and tail morphology of Capparis spinosa and Rumex acetosella extract and methotrexate drug on germ cell of the laboratory mice.

The Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapy drug that interferes with folic acid activation, preventing cell reproduction.

Methotrexate was first used in the treatment of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia in 1984.

Our results showed that both plant extracts caused a significant increase in mitotic index of germ cell of mouse testis and caused a significant decrease in head and tail abnormalities after 35 days of treatment in comparison with negative and positive control.

While MTX caused a significant decrease in mitotic index of mouse testis and caused an induction in the abnormalities of sperm head and tail morphology specially after 35 days of treatment.

From this study we conclude that both plants extracts have neither genotoxic nor clastogenic effects in mouse germinal cells (in vivo).