The mean percentage of motile boar sperms were decreased significantly (P<0.01) at 5% and 10% of Aloe vera dried leaf powder at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours of preservation but not at 0 hour in all the boar
i.e. immediately after dilution as compared to control group (Table 1). The mean percentage of sperm motility was significantly reduced after mixing with different percentages of Aloe vera in GEPS extender as compared to control group during preservation at 17°C. The present finding was in close agreement with the observation reported by
Oyeyemi et al. (2011).
Owoyemi et al. (2015) investigated male catfish treated with Aloe vera gel extract. They found that sperm motility was drastically reduced, when they used 2 and 3% Aloe vera gel. According to
Fakhrildin and Sodani (2014), five ìL of fresh Aloe vera leaf gel extract can improve sperm parameters, particularly motility.
Barbosa et al. (2020) investigated the effect of Aloe vera extract at concentrations of 10% and 20% on the cryopreservation of sperm from domestic cats’ epididymis. Sperm motility was shown to be reduced. The large disparity in results could be attributable to the effect of phytochemical present in Aloe vera
(Talukdar et al., 2023b).
The mean percentage of live sperm in all the boars were decreased significantly (P<0.01) at 5% and 10% of Aloe vera dried leaf powder as compared to control group at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours of preservation but not at 0 hour
i.e. immediately after dilution (Table 1). It has been observed that the mean percentage of live sperm was significantly reduced after mixing with different percentages of Aloe vera i.e. 5% and 10% as compared to control group in GEPS extender during preservation at 17°C. The present study was in close agreement with the observation reported by
Oyeyemi et al. (2011).
Owoyemi et al. (2015) reported that 2 and 3% of Aloe vera gel reduced the per cent viability of sperm.
Barbosa et al. (2020) investigated the effect of Aloe vera extract at concentrations of 10% and 20% on the cryopreservation of sperm from domestic cats’ epididymis. They found that spermatozoa viability has decreased while using Aloe vera extract.
The mean percentage of acrosomal integrity (intact) of boars’ spermatozoa in different hours of preservation were decreased significantly (P<0.01) in control, 5% and 10% of Aloe vera dried leaf powder at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours of preservation (Table 1). It has been observed that the mean percentage of acrosomal integrity (intact) was significantly reduced after mixing with different percentages of Aloe vera
i.e. 5% and 10% as compared to control group in GEPS extender during preservation at 17°C. The present study was in close agreement with the observation reported
Fakhrildin and Sodani (2014) and
Talukdar et al. (2023a).
Tatemoto et al. (2006) reported that tannic acid present in Aloe vera blocking hyaluronidase activity and reduced boar sperm viability.
The mean percentage of sperm intact plasma membrane (HOST +ve) in all the boars were decreased significantly (P<0.01) at control, 5% and 10% of Aloe vera dried leaf powder at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours of preservation (Table 1).
Barbosa et al. (2020) investigated the effect of Aloe vera extract at concentrations of 10% and 20% on the cryopreservation of sperm from domestic cats’ epididymis. They found that the mean percentage of sperm intact plasma membrane was decreased (P>0.05) after thawing in all the treated groups.
The total per cent of sperm abnormalities was increased while preserving the semen sample by using GEPS extenders along with 5% and 10% of dried Aloe vera leaf powder at 17°C for 48 hours (Table 1). The findings of this investigation matched those of
Oyeyemi et al. (2011), who found that continuous treatment of Aloe vera extract increased sperm abnormalities in the West African Dwarf buck by a substantial (P<0.05). The reproductive capacity of male catfish treated with gel extract of Aloe vera plant was investigated by
Owoyemi et al. (2015). They also reported that that Aloe vera gel was harmful to the catfish’s reproductive potential and could be a cause of infertility. Phytochemical constituents of Aloe vera plant
i.e. Steroid, Alkaloid, Tannins and Terpenoid could be the reason for detrimental effect on semen quality of crossbred boar while preserved upto 48 hours at 17°C
(Luwang et al., 2021).
The mean level of total protein in seminal plasma in boar semen was decreased significantly (P<0.01) while preservation period increased at both 5 and 10% of Aloe vera dried leaf powder and highest level of total protein in seminal plasma was released from the boar spermatozoa while using GEPS extenders along with 10% of dried Aloe vera leaf powder at 48 hours of preservation in 17°C (Table 2). The decreased sperm membrane proteins could be due to sublethal damage caused by active ingredients
i.e. tanins, tarpenoid and alkaloid present in Aloe vera dried leaf powder that occurred during preservation, resulting in sperm surface protein loss
(Lessard et al., 2000; Owoyemi et al., 2015), membrane protein segregation (
De Leeuw et al., 1990), inactivation of membrane-bound enzymes andreduced lateral protein diffusion within the membrane (
Watson, 1995).
The level of sperm membrane protein of boar spermatozoa decreased while preserving the semen sample by using GEPS extenders along with 5% and 10% of dried Aloe vera leaf powder at 17°C for 48 hours (Table 2). The decreased sperm membrane proteins could be due to sublethal damage caused by active ingredients
i.e. Tanins, Tarpenoid and Alkaloid present in Aloe vera dried leaf powder
(Lessard et al., 2000; Owoyemi et al., 2015), membrane protein segregation (
De Leeuw et al., 1990), inactivation of membrane-bound enzymes andreduced lateral protein diffusion within the membrane (
Watson, 1995). The preservation of diluted liquid boar semen induces damages
(Waberski et al., 2011). Increased extracellular protein levels in extenders could be related to Aloe vera induced sperm membrane disruption and protein leakage during processing and preservation, according to the current study
(Luwang et al., 2021).
The mean level of cholesterol in boar semen was decreased significantly (P<0.01) while preservation period increased at both 5 and 10% of Aloe vera dried leaf powder and highest level of cholesterol was released from the boar spermatozoa at 10% of dried Aloe vera leaf powder in 48 hours of preservation at 17°C (Table 2).
Cerolini et al. (2001) made similar observations. As stated by
Srivastava et al. (2013) and
Talukdar et al. (2016b), membrane cholesterol has a stabilizing impact on spermatozoa membrane; thus, any change in its quantity is likely to cause membrane reorganisation or destabilisation. According to
Haque et al. (2019) there was an increase in phospholipids and cholesterol in the seminal plasma of Hampshire boars with increased preservation hours. The alteration in the cholesterol level might be due to damage to their membrane by active ingredients
i.e. tanins, tarpenoid and alkaloid present in Aloe vera dried leaf powder
(Luwang et al., 2021).
The mean level of ALT and AST in boar semen was increased significantly (P<0.01) while preservation period increased at both 5 and 10% of Aloe vera dried leaf powder and highest level of ALT and AST was released from the boar spermatozoa at 48 hours of preservation in 17°C (Table 2). The mean activity of ALT and AST in the present study was lower than the values reported by
Nath et al. (1996) in bull semen and higher than the values reported by
Pratap et al. (1999);
Laskar et al. (2024). Transaminase activity (ALT and AST) is a good indication of semen quality
(Talukdar et al., 2016a). After cell injury, the mean activity of ALT and AST changed considerably
(Talukdar et al., 2017). It might be due to alterations in mitochondrial sheath with protein loss from the mid piece and an increase in cell membrane permeability with or without rupture
(Haque et al., 2018).
