Effect of salam (Syzygium polyanthum Wight. Walp.) leaf extract on spermatozoa motility in ethanol-induced mice

Decreased quality of spermatozoa can occur because of the formation of free radicals resulting from ethanol induction. Salam [Syzygium polyanthum (Wight.) Walp.] leaves have been reported to have antioxidant activity. However, it is not known whether this antioxidant activity can overcome the decline in spermatozoa motility. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of ethanol extracts obtained from salam leaves on spermatozoa motility in ethanol-induced mice (Mus musculus L.). Animals were divided into 5 groups. The normal control group (KK1) was not treated and the treatment control group (KK2) was administered with 0.5 % carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) and ethanol (40 % v/v) at 2.8 g/kg body weight (bw). Ethanolic extracts of salam leaves at doses of 43.75, 87.5 and 175 mg/kg bw were orally administered into the mice in treated group 1 (KP1), treated group 2 (KP2), and treated group 3 (KP3), respectively. All treated mice were induced daily by ethanol per oral (p.o) at a dose of 2.8 g/kg bw (40 % v/v). The treatment was given for 20 consecutive days. The results of LSD testing showed that ethanol extracts of salam leaves resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher percentages of spermatozoa motility. Compared to the mice of the KK2 group (44.88 % ± 3.40 %), the spermatozoa motility of all treated groups (KP1 56.97 % ± 2.66 %; KP2 58.19 % ± 5.33 %; KP3 53.77 % ± 4.00 %) showed higher percentages of motility.