Effects of Crude Aqueous Leaf Extracts of Citropsis Articulata and Mystroxylon Aethiopicum on Sex Hormone Levels In Male Albino Rats

Abstract

Abstract

The study evaluated effect of aqueous leaf extracts of C. articulata and M. aethiopicum on serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin in male albino rats as well as on organ weights and histological structure of the testis. The phytochemical composition of the extracts was also qualitatively determined. This was an experimental study. Shade dried C. articulata and M. aethiopicum leaves were pounded and crude extracts were prepared using distilled water; then boiled at 100°C for 20 minutes. Adult male rats were randomly divided into eight groups (n=6) and kept in separate cages. The rats from group i-vii were orally dosed daily with 5mg/kg of flutamide to induce erectile dysfunction one hour prior to the administration of the extracts at doses of 150, 300 and 450 mg/kg body weight respectively of each extract. Group vii rats received testosterone, 100µg/kg intraperitoneally while those in group 8 were administered with 10mg/kg of normal saline (negative control). On days 0, 7, 14 and 21 the males from different groups were subjected to estrus induced females in separate cages. The sexual behavior of the rats i.e. mounting and intromission frequencies were recorded. Serum levels of testosterone, LH, FSH and prolactin; organ weights and the histological structure of the testis were determined on day 22 post last treatment. The extracts were also screened for phytochemical composition.Rats treated with 450mg/kg of C. articulata and M. aethiopicum had a significant increase in level of serum testosterone level (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively) when compared with both negative and positive control. There was also a significant increase (p<0.01) in LH levels in rats treated with 450mg/kg of M. aethiopicum. There was a dose dependent increase in mounting and intromission frequencies, testis and heart weight for both aqueous extracts for all doses. Statistically significant (p<0.001) increase in testis weight was witnessed in rats treated with 450mg/kg of C. articulata. The phytochemical screening revealed presence of high concentrations of catechol tannins in the aqueous extracts of both plants. The results also revealed high concentrations of saponins, flavonoids, steroid glycosides, anthrasenosides (aglycones) and triterpenes in the aqueous extract of C. articulata. Histological examination of the testes revealed increased series of spermatogenesis and Leydig cell proliferation with higher doses of both extracts.This study demonstrated the androgenic effects of the aqueous leaf extracts of both plants i.e. increased mounting, intromission, testes weight, spermatogenesis and Leydig cell proliferation. These effects are probably explained by the increase in serum testosterone and LH levels. The results of this study may explain the use of these plants in the management of erectile dysfunction attributed to hypogonadism in local communities of Uganda.