Fennel induces spermotoxicity in mice

Background: Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), a plant of umbelliferae family, is widely used as a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, antitumor, chemopreventive, cytoprotective, hepatoprotective, antioxidant and oestrogenic activities. The present study was conducted to explore the effects of fennel on mice sperm parameters.Methods: 24 mature male mice were divided into four groups including control (with no treatment), low dose fennel (0.37 mg/kg.B.W-1), medium dose fennel (0.75 mg/kg.B.W-1) and high dose fennel (1.50 mg/kg.B.W-1). Sperm count, motility, viability and DNA damage were assessed after 35 days.Result: Dose-dependent reductions of sperm concentration, motility and viability were observed in fennel-treated mice. Moreover, fennel significantly increased sperm DNA damage following medium and high dose level treatments. Conclusion: Fennel adversely affects mice sperm characteristics in a dose-dependent manner.

Keywords:

Fennel , Mice , Spermotoxicity , Dose-dependency