The Effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium on in Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in Cyclophosphamide Treated Mice

Apart from being an immunosuppressant agent, Cyclophosphamide (CP) 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 (AM) inflorescences, as a potential antioxidant on in vitro fertilization in CP Treated Mice. In order to 30 Male adult NMRI mice, aged 6-8 weeks, were randomly divided into five groups and treated for 35 days. The control group received distilled water (0.1 ml/kg, daily), Group 2 received CP alone (5mg in 50ml distilled water /kg, daily), Group 3 received CP (5mg in 50ml distilled water /kg, daily) + hydro-alcoholic extract of AM (75mg/kg, daily). Group 4 received CP (5mg in 50ml distilled water /kg, daily) + hydro-alcoholic extract of AM (150mg/kg, daily) and Group 5 received CP (5mg in 50ml distilled water /kg, daily) + hydro-alcoholic extract of AM (300mg/kg, daily). The oocytes were obtained from 15 mature female mice. Animals were anesthetized to easy draw, after extraction and normal sperm and fertilized oocytes were incubated for 120 hours in presence of HTF + 4 mg BSA. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Tukey test. In group 2, the blastocyst formation and fertilization rate significantly decreased compared to control group (p<0.05). In group 4, the above-mentioned parameters were restored to near normal level (p<0.05) and in the group 5 all of these parameters significantly decreased compared to group 2 (p<0.05). These findings manifested that AM (Medium dose) may be partially protective against Cyclophosphamide-induced embryo toxicity. But high dose of AM (300mg/kg) caused a significantly remarkable reduction in IVF.

Achillea millefolium, IVF, Cyclophosphamide, embryo toxicity, Mice