Abstract

The present study was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of Withania somnifera against aluminium chloride-induced testicular toxicity and impaired fertility. Swiss mice were divided into 6 groups of 12 each. Mice of group I served as control while that of group II were administered with AlCl3 (100 mg/kg/day) for 30 consecutive days. Animals of group III were administered with AlCl3 (100 mg/kg/day) for 30 consecutive days followed by sacrificing the animals 42 days after withdrawal of the treatment. Mice of groups IV, V and VI were administered with Withania somnifera (200 mg/kg/day) only, AlCl3 (100 mg/kg/day) along with Withania somnifera (100 mg/kg/day) and AlCl3 (100 mg/kg/day) along with Withania somnifera (200 mg/kg/day), respectively, for 30 consecutive days. AlCl3-induced noticeable alterations in the body weight, testicular weight, histoarchitechture of the testis, aluminium accumulation, level of LPO, activities of antioxidant enzymes, functional markers, concentration of cholesterol, level of serum testosterone and mating ability were restored markedly in the mice co-administered with either 100 or 200 mg/kg/day AlCl3. These findings thus revealed the ameliorating potential of Withania somnifera against aluminium chloride-induced testicular toxicity and impaired fertility.