ABSTRACT
Background and Purpose: Sperm count and their productivity are dependent on the levels of blood androgenic hormones. Also, it is likely that the Centella asiatica extract can affect the levels of hormones affecting spermatogenesis. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of Centella asiatica extract on serum levels of testosterone, FSH and LH in male Wistar rat.
Methods and Materials: In this experimental study, 40 adult male albino Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: an untreated control, sham receiving a solvent medium and the remaining three groups [experimental groups 1 to 3] which received 10 mgkg-1, 50 mgkg-1 and 80 mgkg-1 Centella asiatica extract every day for 40 days. Twenty four hours after the last administration of extract, 3-4 ml of blood samples were collected from every rat by aspiration from heart ventricle, and their serum concentrations of FSH, LH and testosterone were measured using radioimmunoassay method. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS13 using one-way ANOVA and Tukey test
Results: The mean and standard deviation of testosterone the control and sham groups were 16.4 +/- 2.18 and 14.1 +/- 0.09 respectively; in the experimental groups [10, 50 and 80 mg/kg], these were 15+/-1.32, 9.8 +/- 0.05 and 8.4 +/- 0.31 nanoM/l respectively. Mean testosterone level in rats receiving 50 mgkg-1 and 80 mgkg-1 Centella asiatica extract were significantly lower than the control groups [p=0.001, P=0.008] and sham groups [p=0.001, P=0.003]; also, it reduced in comparison with the experimental group receiving 10 mgkg-1 Centella asiatica extract [p=0.02, P=0.004]. The difference between the two groups receiving 50 and 80 mgkg-1 Centella asiatica extract was not significant [p=0.09]. The concentration of FSH and LH in all experimental groups was not significantly different from both control and sham groups [p>0.05]
Conclusion: By affecting Leydig cells and causing disorder in the levels of testosterone, sperm count, and by affecting epididymis, centella Asiatica alcoholic extract can reduce the motility and productivity of sperms