Effect of nut meg (Myristica fragrans) oiJ extract on testicular function in mice exposed to oxidative stress

nut meg (Myristica fragrans) has been mentioned in ancient medicineto be beneficial in the managment of male sexual disorders. The presentstudy is to evaluate the nut meg oil extract on testicular functions in miceexposed to 1% hydrogen peroxide for 21 days. Oral administration of nutmeg oil extract at adose of 250 mg/kg produced asignificant decrease intestis weight and sperm count and percentage of viable and normal spermas compared to hydrogen peroxide treated group. Oral administration ofnut meg oil extract at 500 mg/kg dose produced a highly significantdecrease in weight of testis and sperm count and percentage of viable andnormal sperm as compared to hydrogen peroxide treated group. Also themean number of spermatogonia reduced to a significant level ascompared to hydrogen peroxide treated group and controL The presentresults suggest that nut meg popularly consumed as food and may containsome active principles with anti oxidant properties. However high dosesof 250 or 500 mg/kg could be very toxic to the testis.