Effectiveness of Morinda citrifolia L. leaves extract to improve semen quality and reproductive hormone concentrations in Wistar rats exposed to cigarette smoke

Background: Morinda citrifolia L. possesses antioxidant activity that can ameliorate the decline in semen quality of male rats due to exposure to cigarette smoke. Objectives: This study intend to assess the effectiveness of M._citrifolia leaves extract in ameliorating male infertility associated with oxidative dysregulation induced by exposure to tobacco smoke. Methods: The animals used in the study were evenly and randomly divided into five groups, each containing five rats. Group X1 served as the normal control without any treatment, whereas group X2 comprised rats that were exclusively subjected to cigarette smoke exposure. Groups X3, X4, and X5 were exposed to cigarette smoke and subsequently administered M. citrifolia leaves extract orally via a nasogastric tube at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg BW, respectively, for a period of 52 days. Twenty-four hours after the final treatment, blood samples were collected to examine FSH, LH, and testosterone levels using ELISA technique. Semen was collected from the cauda epididymis to analyze the quality of spermatozoa. Results: The administration of M. citrifolia leaves extract improved sperm concentration, progressive motility, and viability, while sperm morphological abnormalities were not affected by the extract (P = 0.618). FSH concentration decreased following M. citrifolia leaves extract administration, particularly at dose of 100, and 200 mg/kg BW. LH concentration increased significantly after treatment with 100_mg/kg BWof M. citrifolia leaves extract and testosterone levels improved after treated with leaves extract of M. citrifolia (P <0.001). Conclusions: Methanol extract of M. citrifolia leaves enhance sperm quality and testosterone levels but does not affect FSH and LH concentrations in male rats exposed to cigarette smoke.