The effect of ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves on sperm parameters in 4G-cellphone-EMR exposed rats

Abstract

Cell phone use and infertility are topics of scientific investigation. 2G, 3G and 4G cell phone radiation causes negative effects on spermatogenesis. The aim of this study is to assess the protective efficiency of Moringa oleifera leaves (MOL) on the sperm parameters of Wistar rats against electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted from a 4G mobile phone. Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Control group (n=3) without mobile phone; Sham group (n=3) with mobile phone in switched-off mode; MOL-2 group (n=6) obtained orally 200 mg ethanol extract of MOL/kg BW/two months; R2 group (n=6) subjected to 4G-EMR for 96 minutes/day/two months; R2+MOL group (n=6) treated with MOL extract while exposed to EMR for two months. After the experimental period, rats were sacrificed to get epididymises. The epididymal fluid was collected to evaluate count, viability, motility and morphology of sperms. The 4G-EMR induced a significant reduction in the count and tail defects of sperms (P<0.05) in R2 rats as compared to control, sham and MOL-2 groups. Nevertheless, MOL extract significantly inhibited the EMR-caused fall of those variables in R2+MOL group. The R2 group had significantly (P<0.0001) lower and higher values concerning the sperm’s progressive motility and non-motility rates, the percentages of alive and dead sperms than those in the control, sham, and MOL-2 groups, but the MOL extract restored the parameters in R2+MOL as compared to R2 group. The oral administration of 200 mg of ethanolic extract of Moringa leaves protected the sperm parameters of Wistar rats to near normal level from harmful effects of 4G-cell phone-EMR.