TY - JOUR
T1 - Male rat hormone imbalance, testicular changes and toxicity associated with aqueous leaf extract of an antimalarial plant
T2 - Phyllanthus niruri
AU - Asare, George Awuku
AU - Bugyei, Kwasi
AU - Fiawoyi, Irene
AU - Asiedu-Gyekye, Isaac Julius
AU - Gyan, Ben
AU - Adjei, Samuel
AU - Addo, Phyllis
AU - Otu-Nyarko, Lydia
AU - Nyarko, Alexander
PY - 2013/6
Y1 - 2013/6
N2 - Context: Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae), a medicinal plant traditionally known for dissolving kidney stones, is used prophylactically as an antimalarial agent. Objective: The study was undertaken to determine its effect on some male hormones and other toxicological properties due to paucity of its data despite its wide use. Material and methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (100-140g) were used. Group 1 [control group (C), n=6] received water. Group 2 [low-dose test group (LD), n=6] received 50mg/kgbody weight (b.wt.) aqueous leaf extract orally. Group 3 [high-dose test group (HD), n=6] received 500mg/kgb.wt. extract for 90 days. Upon sacrifice, among other organs the testes were harvested. Blood samples drawn were used for biochemical (including progesterone, estrogen and testosterone), cytotoxicity and hematological assays. Results: C, LD and HD estrogen values were 192±25, 385±122 and 962±357pg/ml, respectively. In the same order, progesterone values were 96±24, 155±45 and 320±80pg/ml, respectively. Testosterone levels were 5210±1090, 4710±220 and 4500±580pg/ml, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the estrogen and progesterone levels (p=0.001). Degenerative changes were observed histologically. Cytotoxicity at 50% (CC50) was 10.0g/ml. Discussion and conclusion: This antimalarial plant is mildly cytotoxic with male antifertility properties.
AB - Context: Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae), a medicinal plant traditionally known for dissolving kidney stones, is used prophylactically as an antimalarial agent. Objective: The study was undertaken to determine its effect on some male hormones and other toxicological properties due to paucity of its data despite its wide use. Material and methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (100-140g) were used. Group 1 [control group (C), n=6] received water. Group 2 [low-dose test group (LD), n=6] received 50mg/kgbody weight (b.wt.) aqueous leaf extract orally. Group 3 [high-dose test group (HD), n=6] received 500mg/kgb.wt. extract for 90 days. Upon sacrifice, among other organs the testes were harvested. Blood samples drawn were used for biochemical (including progesterone, estrogen and testosterone), cytotoxicity and hematological assays. Results: C, LD and HD estrogen values were 192±25, 385±122 and 962±357pg/ml, respectively. In the same order, progesterone values were 96±24, 155±45 and 320±80pg/ml, respectively. Testosterone levels were 5210±1090, 4710±220 and 4500±580pg/ml, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the estrogen and progesterone levels (p=0.001). Degenerative changes were observed histologically. Cytotoxicity at 50% (CC50) was 10.0g/ml. Discussion and conclusion: This antimalarial plant is mildly cytotoxic with male antifertility properties.
KW - Estrogen
KW - Medicinal plant
KW - Progesterone
KW - Testosterone
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84877816990&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3109/13880209.2013.764325
DO - 10.3109/13880209.2013.764325
M3 - Article
C2 - 23570525
AN - SCOPUS:84877816990
SN - 1388-0209
VL - 51
SP - 691
EP - 699
JO - Pharmaceutical Biology
JF - Pharmaceutical Biology
IS - 6
ER -