Lepedium meyeni Based Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles: A Potential Therapeutic Approach for Improving the Reproductive Functions in Adult Male Sprague Dawley Rats

Abstract

Male infertility, a prevalent and unrecognizable health issue, is affecting human beings at an alarming rate. Chemically synthesized drugs to treat the infertility are associated with severe complications. Potent versatile therapeutic agents with minimum side effects are required to overcome reproductive health challenges. The current research work aims at synthesis of a novel silver nanoparticles (LM@AgNPs), its characterization with evaluation of its effects on reproductive organs, hormone synthesis, and semen parameters in adult male Sprague Dawley rats. LM@AgNPs were synthesized from Lepedium meyeni (LM) using coprecipitation method and characterized with UV Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The rats (n=15) were divided into three groups and administered with distilled water, LM, and LM@AgNPs for 28 days through oral gavage for evaluation of their effects on reproductive system. The UV-Visible Spectrum gave a characteristic surface plasmon resonance band peak at 41 5nm. FTIR highlights major functional groups fabricated on metallic silver. The newly synthesized crystals exhibit Face Centered Cubic symmetry with crystallite size 15.57nm based on PXRD analysis while SEM measurements indicate the particle size of 21.126 with highest proportion of reduced silver confirmed through EDS. LM@AgNPs induced morphometric and morphological changes in seminiferous tubular structure with fertility enhancing properties. There was a significant increase in testosterone concentration (P=0.0003) along with significant improvement in semen profile (P ≤ 0.0001) following treatment with LM@AgNPs. In conclusion, LM@AgNPs demonstrated fertility enhancing properties with minimal side effects highlighting their potential as a potent therapeutic agent in male reproductive system of adult male Sprague Dawley rats.