The effect of hydroalkoholic extract urtica dioica on concentrations of sex hormones in adult male rats

Abstract

Introduction: Nowadays using herbal products as an alternative or supplement to contraceptive synthetic drugs is common. There are reports of anti-estrogenic effects of nettle resulting in sterility in mammals. We asked if hydro-alcoholic extract of the nettle root (Urtica diocia) could alter serum concentrations of hormones gandotropins and testosterone, in adult male rats. Materials and Methods: 80 adult male rats were randomly divided into 8 groups of 10. Three groups received 300, 600 and 1000 mg/ kg body weight of hydro-alcoholic extract of nettle root intraperitoneally for 3 days to lethal dose.In remaing groups, one as control, another as sham, and three others received 75, 150, 300 mg/kg body weight for 20 days. The rats were then sacrificed and FSH and LH serum concentrations were determined by ELISA. Results: The nettle extract increased LH significantly (P<0.05), whereas the effect on FSH was variable and nonsignificant. The extract tended to increase testosterone serum concentration but did not reach significant level. Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic extract of nettle root has a positive effect on LH hormone at the dose of 300 mg/kg body weight.

Keywords

• urtica dioica
• sex hormones
• rat