The effects of Red Kwao Krua (Butea superba Roxb.) on sex hormone levels and reproductive organ in adult female and male rats

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of powder suspension of Butea superba Roxb. (BS) on sex hormone levels and reproductive organs in adult normal female, adult normal male, bilateral ovariectomized (OVX) and bilateral orchidectomized (ODX) rats. Three groups of rats were given the powder of BS at doses of 10, 50 and 250 mg/kg.BW/day for 30 days by gastric gavages. Distilled water (DW) and testosterone propionate (TP) were used as negative and positive control groups, respectively. The blood collections were done every 15 days or 3 estrous cycles for FSH, LH, T and E2 assays. The results showed that serum T levels and the weights of seminal vesicle were significantly increased after administration of 250 mg/kg.BW/day of BS in normal male rats, but not in ODX rats. There was no change on the histology of testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle in both normal and ODX male rats. The administration of BS in cyclic and OVX female rats showed no difference in E2 levels, and the uterine and ovarian weights. But the group given 250 mg/kg.BW/day of BS showed the histological change of uterus in both cyclic and OVX female rats; the endometrial thickness and the number of uterine glands were increased. It can conclude that the administration of BS at a dose of 250 mg/kg.BW/day has a direct effect on reproductive organs in both normal and castrated rats, except the ODX male rats.