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Luteinizing hormone reduction by the male potency herb, Butea superba Roxb
S Malaivijitnond1, A Ketsuwan, G Watanabe
1Department of Biology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Suchinda.m@chula.ac.th
Summary
Butea superba, a Thai herb for male potency, showed no direct androgenic effects in rats. It synergizes with testosterone to stimulate sex organs and may reduce luteinizing hormone in castrated males.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Reproductive Biology
- Ethnobotany
Background:
- Butea superba Roxb. is a traditional Thai herb used to enhance male vitality.
- Its potential androgenic activity and effects on the reproductive system require scientific investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the androgenic activity of Butea superba in male Wistar rats.
- To assess its impact on the pituitary-testicular axis and accessory sex organs.
Main Methods:
- Male Wistar rats (intact and orchidectomized) were treated with varying doses of Butea superba (BS) or testosterone propionate (TP) for 30 days.
- Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone were measured.
- Changes in sex organ weight and histology were analyzed.
Main Results:
- TP treatment altered LH, FSH, and sex organ weights, confirming its androgenic effects.
- Butea superba did not alter testosterone, LH, or FSH in intact rats but increased seminal vesicle weight at the highest dose.
- In orchidectomized rats, Butea superba showed a dose-dependent reduction in LH but no significant changes in sex organ parameters.
Conclusions:
- Butea superba requires endogenous testosterone to synergistically stimulate accessory sex organs in intact animals.
- The herb may possess an LH-reducing effect in orchidectomized animals, suggesting complex interactions within the endocrine system.
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