Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2007.2699.2703Citrullus colocynthis L. on Reproductive System and Fertility in Female Spague-Dawley Rats]]>QazanWalid Sh.AlmasadMotasem M.DaradkaHaytham 1220071016Aim of this study is to investigate the toxic effects of Citrullus colocynthis L. (400 mg/kg/body wight) on the reproductive system after administration to female Sprague-Dawley rats weighting 250-300 g for two time periods 4 and 12 weeks. Twenty adult female rats were divided into two groups and Citrullus colocynthis L. were intraperitoneally injected to experimental animals in dose of 400 mg/kg/body wight. First group containing 10 rats received treatment for 4 weeks and a second group of 10 rats received the same dose of treatment for a period of 12 weeks and compared with twenty non-exposed female rats received vehicle treatment. Female rats were allowed mating with males after 10 days prior to the last administration dose. Animals were autopsied under light anesthesia after mating and several parameters were determined including: number of pregnant rats, body and reproductive organ weight, number of implantation sites, viable fetuses and resorption sites. Assessment of pregnancies in females was measured and the significance of these results was calculated using students t and Chi-square tests. The effect of Citrullus colocynthis L. exposure on fertility was assessed in terms of pregnant rats number, implantation sites, viable fetuses and resorption sites. Exposure to Citrullus colocynthis L. for 4 weeks did not have much effect on fertility. Significant decrease in the relative ovarian weights and embryo weights in rats exposed to Citrullus colocynthis L. were observed. Exposure to Citrullus colocynthis L. for a 12 weeks resulted in a reduction in the percentage of pregnancies and in the number of implantation sites when compared with controls in both treatment periods. Rats receiving 12 weeks treatment showed a decrease in ovarian weights and a decrease in viable fetuss number. These results indicate that long-term exposure of female rats to Citrullus colocynthis L. causes adverse effects on the reproductive system and fertility.]]>Aburjai, T., M. Hudaib, R. Tayyem, M. Yousef and M. Qishawi,2007110294304Adam, S.E.I., A.H. Al-Farhan and A. Al-Yahya,2000Citrullus colocynthis and Rhazya stricta use in Najdi sheep.]]>28385390Ageel, A.M., J.S. Mossa, M. Tarig, M.A. Al-Yahya and M.S. Al-Said,1987Agrawal, S., S. Chauhan and R. Mathur,198618125131Al-Ghaithi, F., M.R. El-Ridi, E. Adeghate and M.H. Amiri,2004Citrullus colocynthis in normal and diabetic rats.]]>261143149Bakhiet, A.O. and S.E.I. Adam,1995Citrullus colocynthis toxicity for chicks.]]>37356359Chowdhury, A.K. and E. Steinberger,197512609617Dixon, W. and F.J. Massey,1957Pages: 228Pages: 228Elawad, A.A., E.M. Abdel Bari, O.M. Mahmoud and S.E. Adam,1984Citrullus colocynthis on sheep.]]>26481485Abdel-Hassan, I.A., J.A. Abdel-Barry and S.T. Mohammeda,2000Citrullus colocynthis fruit aqueous extract in normal and alloxan diabetic rabbits.]]>71325330Kamboj, V.P. and B.N. Dhawan,19826191226Khouri, N.A. and Z. El-Akawi,2005Ruta graveolens L. in male Albino rats with emphasis on sexual and aggressive behavior.]]>26269275Lane-Petter, W. and A.E.G. Pearson,1971Pages: 226Pages: 226Nmila, R., R. Gross, H. Rchid, M. Roye and M. Manteghetti et al.,2000Citrullus colocynthis fruit extracts.]]>66418423Purohit, A. and H.M.M. Daradka,1999Curcuma longa (50% EtOH extract) with special emphasis on testicular cell population dynamics.]]>36142143Richard, A.F., R.E. Dewar, R.E. Schwartz and J. Ratsirarson,2000Propithecus verreauxi.]]>39381391Shapira, Z., J. Terkel, Y. Egozi, A. Nyska and J. Friedman,1989Peganum harmala.]]>27319325Tahraoui, A., J. El-Hilaly, Z.H. Israili and B. Lyoussi,2007110105117Yoshikawa, M., T. Morikawa, H. Kobayashi, A. Nakamura, K. Matsuhira, S. Nakamura and H. Matsuda,2007Citrullus colocynthis.]]>55428434