Investigation of effect Achillea millefolium Inflorescences Extract on DNA Damage of Sperms in Cyclophosphamide Treated Mice

Objective: Apart from being an immunosuppressant agent, Cyclophosphamide (CYP) has been known to induce oxidative stress, impact on gonadal cells’ DNA and reduce the fertilizing potential. Therefore, the present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium inflorescences (AMI), as a potential antioxidant on DNA Damage in CYP Treated Mice. Material & Methods: Thirty male adult NMRI mice were randomly arranged into 5 groups. Group 1 received normal Saline (0.1 ml/kg), group 2 received CYP alone (5mg/kg), group 3 received CYP (5mg/kg) + hydro-alcoholic extract of AMI (75mg/kg). Group 4 received CYP (5mg/kg) + hydro-alcoholic extract of AMI (150mg/kg) and Group 5 received CYP (5mg/kg) + hydro-alcoholic extract of AMI (300mg/kg). Treatments were continued for 35 days. At the end, after mice euthanization by cervical dislocation, Caudaepididymis were used to collect sperm cells and rate of DNA Damage were examined by Acridine Orange Staining. Results: In group 2, the DNA Damage significantly increased compared to control group (p<0.001). In group 4 this parameter significantly decreased compared to group 2 (p<0.001) and in the group 5 rate of DNA Damage significantly increased compared to group 2 (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicated that AMI (low dose) has protective effect against CYP-induced toxicity in CYP Treated Mice probably by decreasing oxidative stresses. But High dose of AMI caused increase toxicity of CYP.

Achillea millefolium, Acridine Orange, Cyclophosphamide, DNA Damage, Mice.