Reproductive health and male fertility are closely related to dietary practices. In recent years, Malaysia has shown a lot of interest in using herbal plants as dietary supplements or in the treatment of numerous diseases. Aquilaria malaccensis, commonly known as karas or gaharu, has recently gained attention for its potential to cure many diseases due to its pharmacological properties. However, studies on its effect on male fertility and reproductive organs are very scarce. This study was conducted to determine the effect of A. malaccensis on male reproductive organs' weight (testis, epididymis, prostate gland and seminal vesicle) and sperm quality (sperm count, sperm morphology and sperm motility) in adult Sprague Dawley rats. Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into four treatment groups; Control (C: 1 mL of distilled water, n = 6), Treatment 1 (T1: 1 g A. malaccensis/kg body weight, n = 6), Treatment 2 (T2: 2 g A. malaccensis/kg body weight, n = 6) and Treatment 3 (T3: 3 g A. malaccensis/kg body weight, n = 6), respectively. Distilled water and A. malaccensis were administered by oral gavage once daily for 28 days. The rats were euthanised on Day 29 for assessment of reproductive organs' weight and sperm quality. Result shows that weight of testis, epididymis, prostate gland, seminal vesicle and sperm motility did not differ (p > 0.05) among control and treated groups. A significant increase (p < 0.05) of sperm number (1.36 × 10-6) and a decrease (p < 0.05) in percentage of the abnormal sperm (8.17%) were observed in T1 group when compared to Control group. Incremental dosage of A. malaccensis seemed to decrease number of sperm (T3: 0.78 × 10-6 < T1: 1.36 × 10-6 with p < 0.05) and increase percentage of abnormal sperm (T3: 18.83% > T2: 12.17% > T1: 8.17% with p < 0.05). In conclusion, the administration of either 1, 2 or 3 grams of A. malaccensis did not alter the reproductive organs' weight and sperm motility. However, the higher concentration of A. malaccensis consumed by the rats seemed to have detrimental effects on the number and morphology of sperm.
Kesihatan reproduktif dan kesuburan lelaki berkait rapat dengan amalan pemakanan. Beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, Malaysia telah menunjukkan minat yang mendalam dalam penggunaan tumbuhan herba sebagai makanan tambahan atau rawatan dalam pelbagai penyakit. Aquilaria malaccensis, yang biasanya dikenali sebagai karas atau gaharu, telah mendapat perhatian kerana berpotensi dalam menyembuhkan pelbagai penyakit disebabkan sifat farmakologinya. Walau bagaimanapun, kajian terhadap kesannya kepada kesuburan lelaki dan organ reproduksi sangat terhad. Oleh itu, kajian ini dijalankan untuk menentukan kesan A. malaccensis terhadap berat organ reproduksi lelaki (testis, epididimis, kalenjar sperma dan vesikel mani) dan kualiti sperma (kepekatan sperma, morfologi sperma dan motiliti sperma) terhadap tikus dewasa Sprague Dawley. Dua puluh empat tikus jantan Sprague Dawley telah dibahagikan kepada empat kumpulan rawatan; Kawalan (C: 1 mL air suling, n = 6), Rawatan 1 (T1: 1 g A. malaccensis/kg berat badan, n = 6), Rawatan 2 (T2: 2 g A. malaccensis/kg berat badan, n = 6) dan Rawatan 3 (T3: 3 g A. malaccensis/kg berat badan, n = 6). Air suling dan A. malaccensis diberi secara suapan gavaj sekali sehari selama 28 hari. Semua tikus dimatikan pada hari ke-29 untuk penilaian terhadap berat organ reproduksi dan kualiti sperma. Hasil yang diperolehi menunjukkan bahawa berat testis, epididimis, kalenjar prostat, vesikel mani dan motiliti sperma tiada perbezaan (p > 0.05) antara kumpulan kawalan dan rawatan. Peningkatan yang signifikan (p < 0.05) dalam kepekatan sperma (1.36 × 10−6) dan penurunan yang signifikan (p < 0.05) dalam peratusan sperma tidak normal (8.17%) dapat dilihat dalam kumpulan T1 jika dibandingkan dengan kumpulan rawatan. Peningkatan dos A. malaccensis telah menunjukkan pengurangan kepekatan sperma (T3: 0.78 × 10−6 < T1: 1.36 × 10−6 dengan p < 0.05) dan peningkatan peratusan sperma tidak normal (T3: 18.83% > T2: 12.17% > T1: 8.17% dengan p < 0.05). Kesimpulannya, pemberian sama ada 1, 2 atau 3 gram A. malaccensis tidak mengubah berat organ pembiakan dan motiliti sperma. Walau bagaimanapun, kepekatan A. malaccensis yang lebih tinggi yang dimakan oleh tikus nampaknya mempunyai kesan buruk terhadap bilangan dan morfologi sperma.
Keywords: Aquilaria malaccensis; Karas; Kualiti Sperma; Male Reproductive Organ; Organ Reproduksi Lelaki; Sperm Quality.
© Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2023.