Abstract
Male infertility is a growing global health issue, accounting for 50% of cases, and highlighting the need for innovative treatment solutions. This study presents a phyto-mechanochemical approach for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (LP@AgNPs) using Lepidium peruvianum Chacon (LP). The LP@AgNPs were characterized using physiochemical techniques. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 15) were divided into three groups and treated orally for 28 days with distilled water, LP powder, or LP@AgNPs. The UV-visible spectrum exhibited a pronounced surface plasmon resonance peak at 415 nm, and morphological analysis indicated a crystalline structure characteristic of a typical face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice with an average crystallite dimension of 11.388 nm, as confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The LP@AgNPs displayed a zeta potential of -41.18 mV, indicating high stability and low aggregation potential. The administration of LP@AgNPs induced significant histomorphological and morphometric changes in reproductive organs supporting enhanced spermatogenesis, spermatozoa maturation, and semen quality, thereby improving the fertility potential of male rats. The biochemical profile exhibited a non-significant change in follicle-stimulating hormone (P = 0.195), a significant reduction in luteinizing hormone (P = 0.001), and a marked increase in testosterone (P = 0.0001). However, oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant enzyme concentrations remained unchanged following LP and LP@AgNPs administration. Overall, these findings suggest that LP@AgNPs improve fertility and have the potential to act as a promising therapeutic option for male reproductive health.