Physiological efficiency of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) administration on the quality and quantity of spermatozoa in adult male albino mice

BACKGROUND: Portulaca oleracea (purslane) is a widely distributed succulent that is rich in flavonoids, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidant vitamins and minerals, and has attracted growing interest as a phytotherapeutic candidate for male reproductive health. oxidative stress is a well-recognized contributor to defective spermatogenesis, and antioxidant-rich plant preparations may plausibly protect the germinal epithelium. This study aims to evaluate the effect of an aqueous purslane preparation, administered at three dosing frequencies, on epididymal sperm concentration and sperm morphology in adult male albino mice. METHODS: Twenty adult male albino mice (Mus musculus; 12 weeks; 25-36 g) were randomly allocated to four groups (n = 5): an untreated control (C) and three treated groups receiving 1 mL/kg body weight of aqueous purslane preparation by oral gavage once every two days (T1), once every three days (T2), or once every four days (T3). After the treatment period, epididymal sperm concentration was determined with an improved Neubauer hemocytometer, and sperm morphology was assessed on eosin-stained smears (100 spermatozoa per animal). data were analyzed by one-way ANoVA with Tukey's post-hoc test (sperm count) and by the chi-square test with pairwise Fisher's exact tests (morphology); p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Sperm concentration differed significantly among groups (F(3,12) = 17.47, p < 0.001, η² = 0.81). T2 produced the highest concentration (166.75 ± 17.65 × 10⁶/mL), significantly exceeding the control (101.50 ± 20.16), T1 (72.50 ± 14.15) and T3 (98.25 ± 23.63) groups (Tukey, all p ≤ 0.002). The proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa was 85% in controls versus 99%, 97% and 84% in T1, T2 and T3, respectively; the group difference was highly significant (χ²(3) = 94.63, p < 0.001). relative to control, abnormal forms were markedly reduced by T1 (1%; Fisher p < 0.001) and T2 (3%; p < 0.001) but not by T3 (16%; p = 0.77). Folded midpiece/tail was the predominant defect across groups. CONCLUSIONS: Aqueous Portulaca oleracea shows promise as a natural agent for enhancing male reproductive function, with treatment efficacy strongly influenced by dosing frequency. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and evaluate their translational potential for managing male infertility.