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Aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera reduced intracellular ROS production, DNA fragmentation and acrosome reaction in Human spermatozoa in vitro
Author(s) -
Moichela Faith T.,
Adefolaju Gbenga A.,
Henkel Ralf R.,
Opuwari Chinyerum S.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/and.13903
Subject(s) - sperm , capacitation , acrosome reaction , dna fragmentation , andrology , sperm motility , semen , reactive oxygen species , chemistry , acrosome , superoxide , biology , biochemistry , apoptosis , medicine , programmed cell death , enzyme
The effects of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera (MO) on human sperm functions and integrity was studied in vitro. Semen was obtained by masturbation after 3–5 days' abstinence from 34 healthy donors in Western Cape, South Africa. Liquefied semen was washed in human tubular fluid supplemented with 1% bovine serum albumin (HTF‐BSA;1:5) with 10 min centrifugation at 300 g . Sperm suspensions were subsequently incubated with MO extract (0.625, 6.25, 62.5 and 625 µg/ml) for 1 hr, where HTF‐BSA served as control. Sperm motility, vitality, DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial membrane potential, capacitation and acrosome reaction were assessed. Sperm motility, vitality, mitochondrial membrane potential and capacitation remained unchanged ( p > .05). A dose‐dependent decrease in sperm reactive oxygen species production ( p < .0001), DNA fragmentation ( p < .0001) and acrosome reaction ( p < .001) was observed. An increase in the percentage of non‐capacitated sperm ( p < .01) was noted at 625 µg/ml. The antioxidant properties of MO actively maintained basic sperm functions, inhibited excess sperm free superoxide production and preserved acrosome reaction and DNA integrity. Further studies are needed to confirm the effect of aqueous MO leaf extract on fertility potential.