Pfaffia glomerata polyploid accession compromises male fertility and fetal development

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen has traditionally been used as a tonic and a stimulant by the Brazilian population. It shows higher biomass accumulation and production of secondary compounds, such as the phytosterol 20-hydroxyecdysone.

Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of the root of tetraploid P. glomerata (BGEt) on testicular parenchyma, and its implications on fertility.

Material and methods: Adult Swiss mice were divided as: control (water) and sildenafil citrate (7 mg/kg), BGEt at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, and BGEtD 200 mg/kg (treated with BGE every three days). Males (n = 4/group) were mated with normal untreated adult females to assess fertility rates, while other animals (n = 6/group) were euthanized for testis, epididymis, and oxidative stress analyses.

Results: Increase in tubule diameter and epithelium height in the discontinuous group, in addition to an increase in the proportion of tubules with moderate pathologies was observed. The pre-implantation loss was lower in all treated groups. The post-implantation loss was significantly increased in all treated groups, except for the lowest BGEt dose. BGEt intake caused a decrease in daily sperm production, along with the number and quality of sperm in the epididymis. Changes were observed in protein carbonylation and hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide levels, characterizing oxidative stress.

Conclusions: The hydroalcoholic extract of P. glomerata tetraploid altered sperm and testicular parameters, compromising embryonic development after implantation.