The Effects of Tocopherol Extraction from Lepidium Sativum Seeds on the Histology of Testis, Epididymis, and Seminal Vesicles of Adult Male Rabbits.

Abstract

Garden cress or "hab arachad" seeds are considered one of the popular medicinal herbs used in Arabian countries. Garden cress meal (Lepidium sativum) is a by-product remaining after the extraction of the oil from seeds. The decline in male reproductive health and fertility in the last 30 years has been linked to environmental toxicants. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of  tocopherol extraction of Lepidium sativum seeds on histological changes in testis, epididymis, and seminal vesicle tissues of adult male rabbits. Then the ability of the extract to induce changes in the morphology of rabbits organs compared to normal groups was determined by histological study using light microscopy. The results have been showed that oral tocopherol supplementation can improve histoarchitecture of rabbit testis. This suggests that tocopherol extraction could be used to enhance rabbit fertility.

Keywords: lepidium sativum, seeds, tocopherol, soxhlet device, rabbits, sperm parameters.