Protective effect of Urtica dioica L against nicotineinduced damage on sperm parameters, testosterone and testis tissue in mice

Background: nicotine consumption can decrease fertility drive in males by inducing oxidative stress and dna damage. urtica dioica l (u.dioica) is a multipurpose herb in traditional medicine for which some anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties have been identified.objective: the main goal is to investigate whether the u.dioica could inhibit nicotine adverse effects on sperm cells viability, count, motility, and testis histology and testosterone hormone.materials and methods: in this study, hydro-alcoholic extract of u.dioica wasprepared and various doses of u.dioica (0, 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg) and u.dioica plusnicotine (0, 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to 56 malemice for 28 consequent days. these mice were randomly assigned to 8 groups (n=7)and sperm parameters (sperm cells viability, count, motility, and morphology), testisand prostate weight, testis histology and testosterone hormone were analyzed andcompared.results: the results indicated that nicotine administration (0.5 mg/kg) significantly decreased testosterone level, count and motility of sperm cells, and testis weight compared to control group (p=0.00). however, increasing the dose of u.dioica significantly boosted motility, count, normal morphology of sperm cells, seminiferous tubules diameter, and testosterone in all groups compared to control (p=0.00) and testis weight in 20 and 50 mg/kg doses in comparison with control group (p=0.00).conclusion: it seems that u.dioica hydro-alcoholic extract administration could increase the quality of spermatozoa and inhibits nicotine-induced adverse effects on sperm parameters