The in vitro effects of Ruta graveolens L. extract on the sperm DNA, fertilization and early embryonic development in mice

Chemical drugs have many side effects; therefore most people turn to traditional medicine and use a large number of herbs. Rue (Ruta graveolens L.) is one of the plants widely used in traditional medicine. The extract of this plant has different effects on body cells due to various compounds with different biological properties. This study was planned to clarify how rue can affect the DNA integrity of sperms, fertilization, and early in vitro embryonic development in white mice. In this study, 20 healthy adult male mice weighing approximately 25±3 g were used. Mice were randomly divided into two groups of 10. The experimental group received 300 mg kg-1 rue aqueous extract in a volume of 0.2 ml and the control group received 0.2 ml of normal saline orally, daily for 45 days. The results showed that sperm parameters such as number and viability in addition to embryonic parameters such as fertilized oocytes, two-celled embryo, and the number of blastocysts decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the experimental group compared to the control one. However, the percentage of immature sperms and fractures in their DNA increased significantly (P<0.05) in the experimental group, compared to the control one. The results of this study indicated the reducing effect of rue extract on sperm and embryonic parameters.