Sains Malaysiana 51(1)(2022): 297-306

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5101-24

Evaluation of the Male and Female Fertility and Teratogenic Effects of Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden in Rats

(Penilaian Fertiliti Tikus Jantan dan Betina dan Kesan Teratogenik Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden)

ZATI BAYANI HAMZAH, BUSHRA SOLEHAH MOHD ROSDAN, NURUL ASMA ABDULLAH & WAN EZUMI MOHD FUAD*

Programme of Biomedicine, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan Darul Naim, Malaysia

Received: 12 March 2020/Accepted: 19 January 2021

ABSTRACT

Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden (LR) or tiger milk mushroom has traditionally been used in Malaysia due to its abundant medicinal properties. The potential effects of LR on the male and female fertility and teratogenicity were investigated on rats. Male Sprague Dawley (10 rats/group) were orally administered with 0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day of LR extract for 30 consecutive days. Female (5 rats/group) received the same treatment beginning the dioestrus of pre-mating, through mating periods and continuously up to day 20 of pregnancy while the rest of the females (5 rats/group) were left untreated. Evaluation on general health, behaviour, body weight and organ weights; reproductive and internal organs were carried out.  Male fertility parameters such as the reproductive performance and hormones as well as sperm analysis were examined. Maternal gross assessment at autopsy and detailed foetal examination were conducted to determine the teratogenicity. The findings obtained on the male animals showed that no significant deleterious effects on the general health, body weight, reproductive and visceral organs weight, reproductive performance, hormones and sperm analysis of up to 1000 mg/kg/day daily doses of LR. Foetal parameters and gross examination of pregnant dams at autopsy showed that the extract did not affect the fertility of the rats and teratogenicity of the litters. Our findings showed that no treatment-related toxicity on the fertility of male and female rats in all groups following LR treatment. The herbal extract also did not result in teratogenic effects on the offspring of the treated dams.

Keywords: Fertility: Lignosus rhinocerotis; reproductive performance; teratogenicity

ABSTRAK

Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden (LR) atau cendawan susu rimau telah digunakan secara tradisi di Malaysia kerana potensinya yang banyak dalam bidang perubatan. Kesan LR terhadap fertiliti tikus jantan dan betina serta kesan teratogenisiti dikaji ke atas tikus. Sprague Dawley jantan (10 tikus/kumpulan) diberikan 0, 250, 500 dan 1000 mg/kg/hari dos ekstrak LR secara oral selama 30 hari berturutan. Tikus betina (5 tikus/kumpulan) menerima rawatan yang sama bermula dari tempoh diestrus pra-mengawan, melalui tempoh mengawan dan berterusan sehingga hari ke-20 kehamilan manakala tikus betina yang selebihnya (5 tikus/kumpulan) tidak dirawat. Penilaian terhadap kesihatan umum, tingkah laku, berat badan dan berat organ; organ reproduktif dan organ dalaman telah dijalankan. Parameter fertiliti bagi tikus jantan seperti prestasi dan hormon reproduktif serta analisis sperma telah diperiksa. Penilaian kasar semasa autopsi ke atas tikus betina dan pemeriksaan teliti ke atas fetus dijalankan untuk menentukan kesan teratogenisiti. Penemuan yang diperoleh pada tikus jantan menunjukkan tiada kesan buruk terhadap kesihatan umum, berat badan, berat organ reproduktif, berat organ dalaman, prestasi reproduktif, analisis hormon dan sperma sehingga dos harian LR 1000 mg/kg/hari. Parameter bagi fetus dan pemeriksaan kasar terhadap tikus hamil semasa autopsi mendedahkan bahawa ekstrak LR tidak menjejaskan fertiliti tikus betina dan teratogenisiti anak tikus. Penemuan kami menunjukkan bahawa rawatan ekstrak LR tidak menyebabkan kesan toksik terhadap fertiliti tikus jantan dan betina dalam semua kumpulan. Ekstrak herba ini juga tidak menyebabkan kesan teratogenik kepada anak tikus dari ibunya yang dirawat.

Kata kunci: Fertiliti; Lignosus rhinocerotis; prestasi reproduktif; teratogenisiti

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*Corresponding author; email: wanezumi@usm.my