Assessment of the antifertility potential of Silver nanoparticles synthesized using Pongamia pinnata leaf extract in male wistar rats for the development of a male contraceptive agent

Plant-mediated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) possess a variety of biological properties, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifertility properties. The plant we used in this study is Pongamia pinnata, which have multiple medicinal values. Nevertheless, the possible antifertility functionality, although having discovered few works which combine it in synthesizing AgNPs, has been proven to be limited. In the present investigation, for the production of AgNPs, methanolic leaf extract was used from Pongamia pinnata. Male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups, a control group, 3 experimental groups that received different concentrations of the AgNPs, and a recovery group. For 60 days, doses were administered orally. The concentration, progression of the sperm, serum testosterone concentration and histopathological examinations of testicular tissues were assessed. Sperm analysis of the rats in the AgNP-treated groups reduced their sperm motility more than control group and had significantly lower serum testosterone levels at different doses tested, particularly in the high-dose cohort. Under the light microscope, histopathology changes indicated that the germinal epithelium was disrupted, and there were shrunken seminiferous tubules and decreased spermatogenesis. These observed antifertility effects in AgNP groups might mean that AgNPs, along with bioactive compounds of Pongamia pinnata, affect spermatogenesis and male reproductive hormones. The results further suggest a positive relationship between dosages and the manifestation of such reproductive changes.