Effects of Ficus asperifolia on normal rat estrus cyclicity

Objective:To evaluate Ficus asperifolia(Moraceae)(F.asperifolia)effecting on regular estrus cycle of Wistar rats.Methods:Air-dried fruits of F.asperifolia were extracted using water.Prior to the test,vaginal smear was monitored daily for a 3-week period to select females with normal(regular)estrous cycle.Those with regular estrus cycle weighing between 150-170 g were randomized into three sets of 15 animals each.Each set was then divided into three groups:Group 1(control)was orally administered with distilled water(10 mL/kg body weight)once a day for 1 week starting from the proestrus stage.Groups 2 and 3 were respectively treated with 100and 500 mg/kg body weight of the plant aqueous extract.The two other sets of 15 animals each were similarly treated as the first set for 3 weeks and 6 weeks respectively.Estrus cycle pattern was monitored before and during plant extract application whereas lipid profile,ovary,uterus and liver growth indices were determined at the end of each treatment.Results:F.asperifolia did not disrupt(0%)the order of appearance of normal estrus cycle stages,namely,proestrus,estrus,metestrus and diestrus.Short-term treatment(1 week duration)exhibited high frequency of appearance of proestrus and estrus stages while mid-(3 weeks)and long-term(6 weeks)treatments revealed constancy in the frequency of all stages irrespective to animal groups.The plasma and organ lipid profile,as well as ovary,uterus and liver growth remained unchanged when compared to distilled water-treated animals.Following long-term administration of plant extract(6 weeks),no adverse effect was noticed.Conclusions:Our data partially support the use of F.asperifolia in common medicine.

Antidiarrheal potential of Distemonanthus benthamianus Baillon. extracts via inhibiting voltage-dependent calcium channels and cholinergic receptors

Objective:To evaluate spasmolytic mechanisms of aqueous and methanolic extracts from Distemonanthus benthamianus trunk-bark.Methods:Spasmolytic activities of extracts were evaluated in vitro on spontaneous and potassium chloride-induced jejunum contractions,or against cholinergic[acetylcholine(0.3μmol/L)]stimulations.High performance liquid chromatography analysis of both extracts was performed in reference to standard compounds.Results:Extracts developed concentration-dependent inhibitory activities.The methanolic extract,which revealed better activity,produced spasmolytic and myorelaxant effects at concentrations of 0.01-0.30 mg/mL with EC(50)of 0.06 and 0.09 mg/mL(95%CI:0.03-0.3 mg/mL),respectively.Its anticholinergic effect was obtained at the same concentrations with EC(50)of 0.11 mg/mL(95%CI:0.03-0.3 mg/mL).Chromatograms showed the presence of gallic acid in both extracts,rutin being only detected in the aqueous extract.Conclusions:Distemonanthus benthamianus extracts exhibit verapamil and atropine-like activities,thus highlighting calcium channels and muscarinic receptors blocking potentials,which may be conveyed by some phenolic compounds.These results confirm the antidiarrheal activity of Distemonanthus benthamianus extracts.

The methanolic extract ofGuibourtia tessmannii(Caesalpiniaceae)improves sexual parameters in high fat diet-induced obese sexually sluggish rats

Objective:To evaluate the effects of the methanolic extract ofGuibourtia tessmannii (G. tesmannii) on sperm parameters, lipid profile and testosterone level in obese rats.Methods: A total of 193 male Wistar rats were fed either with palm oil diet (n=185) or standard diet (n=8) for 16 wk. At the end of this feeding period, 90 obese rats were selected and randomly divided into 18 groups of five rats each and treated with distilled water (10 mL/kg), vitamin E (75 mg/kg), clomiphene citrate (2 mg/kg) or methanolic extract ofG. tessmannii (55, 110 or 220 mg/kg) for 7, 21 or 56 d. At the end of each treatment period, sperm parameters, lipid profile and testosterone level were evaluated. Data were analyzed using ANOVA for repeated measures followed by post-hoc Tukey HSD (P<0.05) for multiple comparisons.Results: Feeding of rats for 16 wk with palm oil diet significantly damaged sperm parameters. The methanolic extract ofG. tesmannii improved sperm viability, motility and normality after 21 or 56 d of treatment. The sperm normality increased significantly in rats treated with the methanolic extract ofG. tesmannii for 7 (110 mg/kg,P<0.01) and 56 d (110 and 220 mg/kg,P<0.05) compared to control group. Triglycerids, total cholesterol, low and very low density lipoproteins cholesterol levels were lower in rats treated with the plant extract for 56 d.G. tesmannii also significantly increased the high density lipoprotein cholesterol and testosterone levels in the plasma after 56 d of treatment.Conclusions: The methanolic extract ofG. tesmannii can improve sperm parameters, lipid profile and testosterone level in obese rats. These findings may justify the folkloric use ofG. tesmannii as a reproductive performance enhancer.

Cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive toxicity: Beneficial effects of Helichrysum odoratissimum(Asteraceae) in male Wistar rats

Objective: Cyclophosphamide(CP) is commonly used to treat some cancers, but its clinical efficacy is also linked with testicular toxicity. We investigated the effects of aqueous extract(AE) and methanolic extract(ME) of Helichrysum odoratissimum for reducing CP-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.Methods: In addition to a normal control(group 1), drugs or vehicles were administered orally to seven groups(n = 5) of rats that had already received 4-weeks of pre-treatment with CP(5 mg/[kgád], per oral administration);group 2 received CP + distilled water(10 m L/[kgád]);group 3 received CP + 5% tween 80(10 m L/[kgád]);group 4 received CP + clomiphene citrate(0.25 mg/[kgád]);groups 5 and 6 received CP + AE(50 and 100 mg/[kgád]) and groups 7 and 8 received CP + ME(50 and 100 mg/[kgád]). Animals were sacrificed on day 15, and body and sexual organ weights, sperm characteristics, testosterone level and testicular histology were evaluated.Results: The CP-treated group showed a significant reduction(P < 0.001) in the body and seminal vesicle weights, testosterone level, sperm count, sperm motility and sperm viability, but elevated(P < 0.001)sperm morphological abnormalities and testicular structure alterations, compared to the control group.Interestingly, these detrimental effects of CP were reversed by treatment with H. odoratissimum extracts.For instance, both extracts and all doses of H. odoratissimum significantly increased the sperm count(P < 0.001), sperm motility(AE, 50 mg/kg, P < 0.05;ME, 50 and 100 mg/kg, P < 0.05) and sperm viability(AE, 50 mg/kg, P < 0.001;ME, 50 and 100 mg/kg, P < 0.001) compared to the CP group. H. odoratissimum also improved plasmatic and intratesticular testosterone levels and prevented histological alterations of the testes.Conclusion: H. odoratissimum might be considered as an alternative drug to alleviate/prevent reproductive damage in cancer patients receiving CP chemotherapy.

Aframomum melegueta prevents the ejaculatory complications of propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism in sexually experienced male rats: Evidence from intravaginal and fictive ejaculations

Objective: Hypothyroidism has been claimed to generate sexual dysfunctions such as ejaculatory disorders. Aframomum melegueta is an aphrodisiac plant with pro-ejaculatory properties. We investigated the protective effects of aqueous extract(AE) and methanolic extract(ME) of A. melegueta on the ejaculatory function of hypothyroid male rats.Methods: Forty sexually experienced male rats were partitioned into 8 groups(5 rats per group) and treated for 28 d as follows: Group 1, Control;Group 2, propylthiouracil(PTU, 10 mg/kg)+ distilled water(DW,10 m L/kg);Group 3, PTU + 5% Tween 80(10 m L/kg);Group 4, PTU + bromocriptine(6 mg/kg);Group 5,PTU + AE(20 mg/kg);Group 6, PTU + AE(100 mg/kg);Group 7, PTU + ME(20 mg/kg), and Group 8,PTU + ME(100 mg/kg). On days 0, 7, 14 and 28 of treatment, each male rat was paired with primed receptive female for measurement of ejaculatory latency time(ELT) and post-ejaculatory interval(PEI) for1.5 h. On day 29, each male rat was urethane-anesthetized and the spinal cord was transected.Thereafter, following urethral/penile stimulations and intravenous injection of dopamine, contractions of the bulbospongiosus muscles and the intraseminal pressure were registered. After these recordings,blood was collected through the catheterization of abdominal artery and plasma was used for thyroidstimulating hormone(TSH), prolactin and testosterone assays.Results: PTU-induced hypothyroidism was characterized by a significant elevation(P < 0.001) of plasmatic TSH and prolactin levels, but a decline(P < 0.001) in plasmatic testosterone, compared to untreated group. ELT, PEI, contractions of the bulbospongiosus muscles and the intraseminal pressure were also altered by PTU treatment. On the contrary, A. melegueta extracts elevated testosterone(AE, 100 mg/kg,P < 0.01;ME, 100 mg/kg, P < 0.05) and decreased prolactin(AE, 100 mg/kg, P < 0.05;ME, 20 mg/kg,P < 0.05) levels, compared to corresponding controls. With regard to DW + PTU group, prolactin concentration was lowered(P < 0.05) in rats administered with bromocriptine. Treatment with A. melegueta extracts significantly prevented the lengthening of ELT(P < 0.05) and PEI(P < 0.001). Hypothyroid state also altered the fictive ejaculation by increasing the latency and decreasing the number and frequency of bulbospongiosus muscle contractions. There was also a decrease in the intraseminal pressure. These alterations were significantly(P < 0.05) alleviated in plant extract-treated groups.Conclusion: This study highlighted the ejaculatory disturbance of hypothyroidism in male rats and its prevention with A. melegueta extracts.