Effects of Leaf Extract of Urtica pilulifera L. on Male Reproductive System of Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rats

Problem statement: Urtica pilulifera L. (Urticaceae), has long been used for the treatme nt of various aliments including diabetes. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia which has a deleterious effect on all systems including reproductive system of animals. Therefore, the current study was designed to invest igate the effects of Urtica pilulifera on the reproductive system of diabetic rats. Approach: Forty male rats were evenly divided into four group s: Group I consisted of non-diabetic rats that receive d only the vehicle; group II-IV was injected intraperitonially with a single dose of streptozoto cin (STZ) of 70 mg kg -1 ; groups III and IV were given methanol extract of Urtica pilulifera orally, 3 days after the STZ injection, at daily d oses of 1.0 and 2.0 g kg -1 , respectively. After 4 weeks of treatments, all th e rats were sacrificed. Results: Administration of 70 mg kg -1 of streptozotocin to male rats induced diabetes an d significantly reduced the body and sex organ weights, testosterone levels, sperm count and motility and significantly increased the gluco se levels and water and food intake. By contrast, rats given the Uritica pilulifera methanol extract had significantly improved body weight gain, whereas th e glucose levels, water and food intake significantly improved in treated diabetic male rat s. In addition, this extract improved the reproduct ive system of the diabetic male rats by significantly i ncreasing the testis and epididymis weights, testosterone levels, sperm count and motility. Conclusion/Recommendations: We concluded that the adverse effects of STZ-diabetes on reproductive sys tem of male rats can be reversed by treatment with Urtica pilulifera leaf extract; and this leaf extract exhibits antih yperglycemic and spermatogenic activities. Based on these findings, we suggested t he possible utilization of Urtica pilulifera extracted as a therapy to prevent the development of diabetes in later life and improved the performance of male reproductive system in animals and humans.