Anethum graveolens Linn.(dill) extract enhances the mounting frequency and level of testicular tyrosine protein phosphorylation in rats

Objective:To investigate the effect of Anethum graveolens(AG) extracts on the mounting frequency,histology of testis and epididymis,and sperm physiology.Methods:Male rats induced by cold immobilization before treating with vehicle or AG extracts [50,150,and 450 mg/kg body weight(BW)] via gastric tube for consecutive 1,7,and 14 d were examined for mounting frequency,testicular phosphorylation level by immunoblotting,sperm concentration,sperm acrosome reaction,and histological structures of testis and epididymis,respectively.Results:AG(50 mg/kg BW) significantly increased the mounting frequency on Days 1 and 7 compared to the control group.Additionally,rat testis treated with 50 mg/kg BW AG showed high levels of phosphorylated proteins as compared with the control group.In histological analyses,AG extract did not affect the sperm concentration,acrosome reaction,and histological structures of testis and epididymis.Conclusions:AG extract enhances the aphrodisiac activity and is not harmful to sperm and male reproductive organs.

Effects of Boiled Dill Seed on Anxiety During Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective:To evaluate the effect of boiled dill seed(Anethum graveolens)on anxiety during childbirth compared with oxytocin.Methods:This study was a randomized controlled trial with 100 pregnant women who were assigned to the oxytocin(50 cases)and the boiled dill seed(50 cases)group by a table of random number.In the boiled dill seed group,10 g of dill seed was boiled in 100 mL for 10 min and was given to women after filtration once orally at the beginning of active phase.In the oxytocin group,10 IU of oxytoci n in 1000 mL of Rin ger soluti on was prescribed accordi ng to the clinical routi ne.The State-Trait An xiety Inventory(STAI)in both groups before(at the beginning of the active phase)and after(6 h after the delivery)was completed.Meanwhile,pain intensity and duration of labor,dilatation and effacement scores,Apgar score of newborns,and FHR were measured and evaluated.Results:No statistically significant differences were shown in obvious anxiety scores between the two groups at baseline(P>0.05).After the delivery,in the boiled dill seed group,the number of women with severe[0 vs.8.0%(4/50)]and almost severe[0 vs.14.0%(7/50)]trait and almost severe[0 vs.14.0%(7/50)]state anxiety was lower than those in the control group(P=0.050,P=0.041,respectively).Moreover,labor was shorter in the 1st(P<0.01),2nd(P=0.78)and 3rd(P=0.10)stages in the boiled dill seed group compared to the control group.Conclusions:Dill seed could be used as an effective treatment to reduce anxiety during labor.Dill seed can be effective in reducing the length of labor.Due to lack of maternal and fetal complications,the boiled dill seed could also be used to reduce cesarean section rates in women who are fearful and anxious of delivery.(RCT Code:IRCT201607177065N2).