Effects of aqueous extract from Asparagus officinalis L. roots on hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormone levels and the number of ovarian follicles in adult rats

Background: Asparagus is a plant with high nutritional, pharmaceutical, and industrial values. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of asparagus roots on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and oogenesis in female rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 adult female Wistar rats were divided into five groups, which consist 8 rats. Groups included control, sham and three experimental groups receiving different doses (100, 200, 400 mg/kg/bw) of aqueous extract of asparagus roots. All dosages were administered orally for 28 days. Blood samples were taken from rats to evaluate serum levels of Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinal hormone (LH), estrogen, and progesterone hormones. The ovaries were removed, weighted, sectioned, and studied by light microscope. Results: Dose-dependent aqueous extract of asparagus roots significantly increased serum levels of GnRH, FSH, LH, estrogen, and progestin hormones compared to control and sham groups. Increase in number of ovarian follicles and corpus luteum in groups treated with asparagus root extract was also observed (p<0.05). Conclusion: Asparagus roots extract stimulates secretion of hypothalamic- pituitary- gonadal axis hormones. This also positively affects oogenesis in female rats.

Anti-hyperprolactinemic effect of Ficus pumila Linn extract in rats

Purpose: To investigate the anti-hyperprolactinemic effect of Ficus pumila Linn. extract (FPLE) in rats. Methods: Hyperprolactinemic rats were generated by subcutaneous injection of metoclopramide dihydrochloride (50 mg/kg). A high dose (800 mg/kg), moderate dose (400 mg/kg), or low dose (200 mg/kg) of FPLE was administered into the stomach of hyperprolactinemic rats for 30 days, after which serum sex hormones and pituitary prolactin-positive cell number and mRNA expression were measured. Results: FPLE had a significant effect on measures of hyperprolactinemia. Compared with hyperprolactinemic rats without FPLE treatment, hyperprolactinemic rats that received a high dose of FPLE showed altered serum estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels (p < 0.05), as well as decreased pituitary prolactin-positive cell number (p < 0.05) and mRNA expression (p < 0.05). Conclusion: FPLE can potentially be used as an anti-hyperprolactinemia treatment but further studies are required to ascertain its suitability.

Effect of Prunella vulgaris L extract on hyperprolactinemia in vitro and in vivo

Purpose: To investigate the anti-hyperprolactinemic activity of Prunella vulgaris L. extract (PVE) in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Rats were given intraperitoneal (i. p.) metoclopramide (MCP, 150 mg/kg daily) for 10 days to prepare hyperprolactinemia (hyperPRL) model. Bromocriptine was used as positive control drug. High (5.6 g/kg), medium (2.8 g/kg) and low (1.4 g/kg) doses of PVE were administered to hyperPRL rats. The effect of PVE on serum prolactin (PRL), estradiol (E2), progesterone (PGN), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were investigated in the rats. MMQ cells derived from rat pituitary adenoma cells and GH3 cells from rat pituitary lactotropictumoral cells were used for in vitro experiments. The effect of PVE on PRL secretion were studied in MMQ cells and GH3 cells respectively. Results: Compared with the control group (446.21 ± 32.43 pg/mL), high (219.23 ± 10.62 pg/mL) and medium (245.47 ± 13.52 pg/mL) reduced PRL level of hyperPRL rats significantly (p 0.05). In MMQ cells, treatment with 5 mg/mL PVE or 10 mg/mL PVE) significantly suppressed PRL secretion and synthesis at 24h compared with controls (p < 0.01). Consistent with D2- action, PVE did not affect PRL in rat pituitary lactotropic tumor-derived GH3 cells that lack the D2 receptor expression, compared with controls. Conclusion: PVE showed anti-hyperPRL activity and can potentially be used for the treatment of hyperprolactinemi, but further studies are required to ascertain this