Oral supplementation with Scabiosa artropurperea L. aqueous extract improves the in vivo sexual behaviour, sperm quality and androgen level in rams.

The effects of an aqueous extract of Scabiosa atropurpurea L. (AES) on the reproduction potential of Queue Fine de l'Ouest rams were evaluated over 9 weeks. Eighteen mature (4-6 years old) rams (52.8 ± 2.6 kg) were divided into three groups. The control (C) group was fed oat hay ad libitum with 700 g of concentrate and the other two groups were fed the same diet supplemented with AES at 1 and 2 mg/kg body weight (AES1 and AES2, respectively). Ram sperm was collected with an artificial vagina (2 × 2 days/week) to evaluate sperm production and quality, antioxidant activity, the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and calcium concentrations. Sexual behaviour and plasma testosterone concentrations were also investigated. The administration of AES improved sexual behaviour (the duration of contact and the number of lateral approaches). The addition of AES also improved individual spermatozoa motility (C: 71.7% ± 6.3%; AES1: 78.3% ± 4.9%; AES2: 83.8% ± 4.4%), the sperm concentration (C: 5.6 ± 0.36; AES1: 6.4 ± 0.81; AES2: 6.7 ± 0.52 × 109 spermatozoa/mL), the ATP ratio (C: 1 ± 0.08; AES1: 2.1 ± 0.08; AES2: 3.3 ± 0.08) and the calcium concentration (C: 5.6 ± 0.24; AES1: 7.7 ± 0.21; AES2: 8.1 ± 0.24 mmol/L). AES treatment decreased the percentage of abnormal sperm (C: 18.5% ± 1.2%; AES1: 16.2% ± 1.1%; AES2: 14.8% ± 0.94%) and DNA damage (C: 62%; AES1: 27%; AES2: 33%) and was associated with elevated seminal fluid antioxidant activity (C: 22 ± 0.27; AES1: 27.1 ± 1.08 and AES2: 27.5 ± 0.36 mmol Trolox equivalents/L) and plasma testosterone (C: 8.3 ± 0.7; AES1: 11.7 ± 0.4; AES2: 15 ± 0.7 ng/L). In conclusion, our study suggests that S. atropurpurea may be potentially useful to enhance libido and sperm production and quality in ram.

Evaluation of acute toxicity of Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima aqueous extracts in Swiss mice.

Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima is a plant widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and used as a traditional medicine. The present study evaluated the biochemical composition and the potential toxicity of aqueous extract of whole Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima through acute toxicity oral administration in male mice. Phytochemical analysis of the Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima revealed high levels of reductor sugars and significant flavonoid and total phenol content. The aqueous extract of Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima was daily oral administered to mice at doses of 300 (group 1), 2000 (group 2) and 4000 (group 3) mg/kg body weight per day for 14 days. We observed no significant difference in the consumption of food, body weight and relative organ weights except for an increase in the seminal vesicles weight in group 3. Hematological parameters revealed the non-adverse effects of prolonged oral consumption of Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima except for a slight increase but significant of percentage of hematocrit in group 1 and 3 and a decrease in percentage of granulocytes in group 2. The histopathologic examination did not show any differences in vital organs. We also observed non-adverse effects on the reproductive parameters including testosterone concentration, spermatozoa motility and morphologies. Based on our findings, the aqueous extract of Scabiosa artropurperea var.maritima could be considered safe for oral medication in animals.