Antifertility investigation and toxicological screening of the petroleum ether extract of the leaves of Mentha arvensis L. in male albino mice.

In male albino mice, the petroleum ether extract of the leaves of Mentha arvensis L., at the doses 10 and 20 mg/mouse per day for 20, 40 and 60 days, when administered orally, showed a dose and duration dependent reduction in the number of offspring of the treated male mated with normal females. Negative fertility was observed in both dose regimens after 60 days of treatment. The body weight and libido of the treated ammals remain unaffected. However, a significant decrease in the weight of the testis, epididymis, cauda epididymal sperm count, motility, viability and normal morphology of the spermatozoa was observed. The levels of serum protein, bilirubin, GOT, GPT and acid phosphatase, blood urea and haematological indices were unaltered throughout the course of investigation. All the altered parameters were reversible following withdrawal of treatment. The results suggest that the petroleum ether extract of the leaves of M. arvensis possess reversible antifertility property without adverse toxicity in male mice.