Abstract Background: Echinacea Purpurea (family Asteraceae) is a perennial medicinal herb with important immunostimulatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and anti‑inflammatory properties. Aim: The current study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of Echinacea purpurea (E. purpurea) ethanolic and aqueous extracts on male fertility in rats after induction of testicular damage by oral administration of Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) for 60 days. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into 6 equal groups (n= 11 rats). Group (1) was kept as a negative control given the vehicle and groups (2) and (3) were given either ethanolic or aqueous extracts of E. purpurea (150 mg/kg) alone for 60 days, respectively. Group (4) was given orally AlCl3 (100 mg/kg) alone and used as a positive control group. Groups (5) and (6) were administered either ethanolic or aqueous extracts of E. purpurea + AlCl3, respectively. Blood samples were withdrawn from orbital plexus of veins for estimating serum testosterone level. Semen samples were collected from cauda epididymis for examination of semen picture. Histopathological examination of testes was also carried out. Results: There were significant increases in sperm cell count, motility and viability as well as serum testosterone levels in E. purpurea extract-treated groups as compared to the positive control group. Testicular histopathological lesions were ameliorated in extract-treated groups. Conclusion: These results denote the beneficial effect of E. purpurea extracts on male fertility in rats. These findings confirm the use of E. purpurea herb in folk medicine for treating men with low fertilizing capacity.
Keywords Echinacea purpurea, Aluminum chloride, testosterone, sperm, histopathology.