Effects of high doses of hydroalcoholic extract of nigella sativa on sperm motility and apoptosis in normozoospermic men

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have revealed that high doses of Thymoquinone (TQ) is able to cease the movement of sperms in culture medium. The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate whether Nigella sativa (NS) extract has similar effect on spermatozoa with TQ or not. Methods: Ten washed semen samples were used for each concentration of NS (5 and 10 mg/ml). Two 0.5 ml aliquots of each sample were incubated with or without the considered dose as case and control samples. Total sperm motility was assessed after one hour. In addition, apoptosis of sperms receiving dose of 10 mg/ml were measured by Annexin-PI staining method followed by flow cytometry detection. Findings: Both doses of NS extract substantially reduce the percentage of total motility, fast and slow progressive and non-progressive sperms. After administration of NS extract, the percentages of alive, apoptotic and necrotic sperms did not show significant change. Conclusion: 5 and 10 mg/ml doses of NS extract considerably diminish the percentage of motile spermatozoa in culture medium. Similarly, NS extract with dose of 10 mg/ml does not change the percentage of viable spermatozoa in culture medium. © 2016, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.