STUDIES OF THE USE OF SOME ANTI-FERTILITY PLANT EXTRACTS IN THE CONTROL OF SOME RODENT PESTS

Abstract

The present work deals with evaluating the anti-fertility effects of some locally available plants as a prelude to use them in the control of the commensal house mouse (Mus musculus). The efficacy of the extracts of each of the bitter apple, Citrullus colocynthis; Egyptian riverhemp, Sesbania sesban; hopbush, Dodonaea viscosa; and cinnamon, Cinnamomum verum were tested with both sexes of albino mice as well as male commensal house mice.

Citrullus colocynthis extract was orally given to male albino mice at doses of 120 mg/kg for 21 days, and 240 mg/kg for 7 and 14 days. Signs of infertility were only observed in males treated with daily doses of 240 mg/kg for 14 days. Anti-fertility effects were manifested by a high reduction in sperm number, and a degeneration of seminiferous tubules accompanied with the appearance of numerous cytoplasmic vacuoles and multinucleated giant cells. Vacuolations in the epithelium of cauda epididimal tubules accompanied with the appearance of round spermatids in their lumina were also observed. This plant extract was neither tested with albino females nor with commensal males due to its lethal effect since albino males had died 14 days after the start of treatment.