ABSTRACT
This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of ethanolic seed extract of Apium graveolens L. [Apiaceae][ESEAG] on male rat fertility. Two doses of the extract [425 and 213 mg/kg body weight] were administered by oral gavage for sixty consecutive days. Five days before the end of this period, each rat was cohabited with two female rats. Fertility indices, hematology, and organ weight and histology were then assessed. The ESEAG arrested spermatogenesis and caused a marked, dose-dependent decrease in sperm count, cauda epididymal sperm motility, blood testosterone concentration, weight of testes and seminal vesicles, testicular protein contentas well as diameter and viability of seminiferous tubules. In addition, a lower number and weight of viable fetuses was obtained for female rats which were impregnated by ESEAG-treated male rats. Hematological parameters, serum liver enzyme levels, thyroid weight and liver and kidney histoarchitecture were not affected. This study shows a dose-dependent antifertility effect of the ESEAG in male rats without toxic effects on other body organs
ABSTRACT
The anticandidal activity of nineteen Jordanian plant extracts [Capparis spinosa L., Artemisia herba-alba Asso, Echinops polyceras Boiss., Gundelia tournefortii L., Varthemia iphionoides Boiss. and Blanche, Eruca sativa Mill., Euphorbia macroclada L., Hypericum trequetrifolium Turra, Achillea santolina L., Mentha longifolia Host, Origanum syriacum L., Phlomis brahchydo [Boiss.] Zohary, Teucrium polium L., Anagyris foetida L., Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Thea sinensis L., Hibiscus sabdariffa L., Lepidium sativum L., Pimpinella anisum L.] were tested against Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Candida glabrata ATCC 1615 and Candida krusei ATCC 6258] in addition to some other clinical isolates of these species. Fluoconazole was used as a reference standard to determine the sensitivity of the strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 3.1 to 25 mg ml[-1]. Most of the extracts exhibited anticandidal effect. Although the in vitro obtained findings are promising, the extracts need further studies to be standardized for in vivo therapeutic applications