Cover
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2011)

Published: June 30, 2011

Pages: 38-45

Research Article

Effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Tribulus terrestris, Phoenix dactylifera and Nasturtium officinale on the reproductive organs in male mice

Amal G. Mattar 1 Mohaisen H. Adaay 2
1Medical City, Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq
2Institute of Embryo Researches and Infertility Treatment, University of Al-Nahrain, Baghdad, Iraq
History
  • Received: March 1, 2011
  • Available Online: June 1, 2011

Abstract

Background: A mixture of three plants was used in this study: Tribulus terrestris (TT), Phoenix dactylifera (Pd) and Nasturtium officinale (No) which were believed to have fertility enhancing effects. Objectives: To study the effects of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the mixture of the three plants on body weight and some reproductive organs parameters in male mice. Material and Methods: Extracts of the mixture of the three plants were injected intraperitoneally at doses of 75, 150 and 300mg/kg/day to male mice for a period of one and two weeks. Body weight and reproductive organs weight were recorded. The height and diameter of the epithelial lining cells of the epididymis and seminiferous tubules were evaluated by the end of the two periods through histological preparations. Result: Both extracts showed a significant increase in body weight and reproductive organs weight as well as the diameter and height of the epithelial lining cells of the seminiferous tubules and epididymis. Conclusion: A dose dependent pattern of effects was noticed in both extracts with more obvious effects resulted by the ethanolic extract.

Keywords

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