This study aimed to evaluate the comparative effects of Purslane aqueous extract (PAE), Purslane methanolic extract (PME) and Purslane ethanolic extract (PEE on the quality of frozen-thawed goat spermatozoa. Collected semen with motility >75% and sperm concentration >1.0 � 109 sperm/ml was pooled and divided into 10 equal aliquots and supplemented by basic extender containing 25, 50 or 100 μg/ml of Purslane aqueous extract (PAE25μg/ml, PAE50μg/ml, PAE100μg/ml, respectively), basic extender containing 25, 50 or 100 μg/ml of Purslane methanolic extract (PME25μg/ml, PME50μg/ml, PME100μg/ml, respectively), basic extender containing 25, 50 or 100 μg/ml of Purslane ethanolic extract (PEE25μg/ml, PEE50μg/ml, PEE100μg/ml, respectively). Control diluent contained no additives. For the determination of sperm quality, frozen straws were thawed and then the sperm characteristics were assessed. Results indicated that higher (P < 0.05) percentages of total motility, viability, mitochondrial activity and lower percentages of malondialdehyde (MDA) for PAE50μg/ml, PME50μg/ml and PEE50μg/ml than those of the control. In addition, PME50μg/ml resulted in the highest) P < 0.05) total motility and the lowest (P < 0.05) MDA levels compared to other treatments. Compared to the control group, PME50μg/ml resulted in higher integrity (P < 0.05) of plasma membranes and in lower amounts of apoptotic and dead spermatozoa. PME50μg/ml and PAE50μg/ml showed higher (P < 0.05) percentages of progressive motility, DNA integrity and live post-thawed spermatozoa than those of the control. No significant differences in the motility, viability, mitochondrial activity and number of live sperms were observed between PME50μg/ml and PAE50μg/ml treatments. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that 50 μg/ml purslane extracts could be used for the cryopreservation. However, the results of methanolic extract was more beneficial compared to other extracts.
