Received May 01, 2020
Accepted November 03, 2020

Objective: We evaluated the preventive effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Dracaena arborea on sperm characteristics and oxidative stress markers in adult male rats with varicocele. Methods: Thirty-six male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into 6 groups (6 animals/group) and treated for 30 days as follows: (1), normal rats receiving distilled water (10 ml/kg); (2), sham operated rats receiving distilled water (10 ml/kg); (3), varicocele rats receiving distilled water (10 ml/kg); (4), varicocele rats receiving vitamin E (150 mg/kg); (5-6), varicocele rats administered respectively with aqueous (500 mg/kg) and ethanolic (100 mg/kg) extracts of D. arborea. All rats (except normal and sham-operated groups) underwent varicocele induction. At the end of the treatment period, sexual organ weights, oxidative stress, sperm characteristics and some biochemical parameters were measured. Results: A significant decrease (p<0.01) in sperm density (137.81±7.76 vs 175.83±4.86), sperm motility (55.43±4.49 vs 77.96± 3.15) and sperm normality (44.75±2.80 vs 79.25±1.84) was noticed in varicocele-untreated rats compared with control. Varicocele also induced oxidative stress by decreasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, and increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) level. These alterations were prevented by D. arborea. For instance, the aqueous extract of D. arborea (500 mg/kg) significantly increased (p<0.05-0.001) testes and epididymis weights, sperm viability and sperm motility, while the ethanolic extract (100 mg/kg) increased sperm normality compared with varicocele-untreated rats. D. arborea extracts also decreased MDA level, but elevated catalase activity. Conclusion: Dracaena arborea prevents the deleterious effects of varicocele and could be considered as an alternative treatment of this physiopathology.