Effect of Giving Jamblang (Syzygium cumini) Leaf Extract on Testosterone Serum Level and Concentration of Spermatozoa in Male Rats Intoxicated with Lead Acetate

Abstract

Lead is a source of free radicals in the environment. Lead accumulation in the blood generates increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body and various health problems, including male infertility. One effort that can be made to prevent this problem is to use antioxidants from natural sources such as jamblang (Syzygium cumini) leaf extract. This study is experimental with a randomised posttest-only control group design method. The object of this study was 30 white rats (Rattus norvegicus strain Wistar) which were divided into five groups (K-, K+, P1, P2, and P3). Lead acetate was given as much as 40 mg/kgBW in groups K+, P1, P2, P3 orally for 30 days. Jamblang (Syzygium cumini) leaf extract was given 50 mg/kgBW in the P1 group, 150 mg/kgBW in the P2 group, and 300 mg/kgBW in the P3 group orally for 30 days. Testosterone levels were examined using blood serum taken through the retro-orbital vein and examined using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Spermatozoa were taken from the vas deferens and counted using the Neubauer counting chamber. The average level of testosterone serum was at K-2.47 ± 0.59 nmol/ml, K+ 2.23 ± 0.45 nmol/ml, P1 2.35 ± 0.65 nmol/ml, P2 2.56 ± 0 .73 nmol/ml, P3 1.96 ± 0.59 nmol/ml, there was no significant difference statistically (p > 0.05). The average concentration of spermatozoa at K-32.06 ± 2.66 million/ml, K+ 19.45 ± 8.07 million/ml, P1 27.05 ± 1.89 million/ml, P2 28.65 ± 1.10 million/ml, P3 27.11 ± 5.64 million/ml, statistically there was a significant difference (p < 0.05). There was no effect of giving jamblang (Syzygium cumini) leaf extract on testosterone serum levels and there was an effect of giving jamblang (Syzygium cumini) leaf extract on the concentration of spermatozoa of male Rattus norvegicus rats intoxicated with lead acetate. Keywords: lead acetate, jamblang leaf extract, testosterone, spermatozoa