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Etude de l’effet androgénique de l’extrait au méthanol deBasella alba L. (Basellaceae) sur la fonction de reproduction du rat mâle

Androgenic activity of the methanol extract ofBasella alba L. (Basellaceae) on male rat reproductive function

Andrologie volume 17, pages 129–133 (2007)Cite this article

Resume

Basellaalba est une plante utilisée par les tradipraticiens de la province de l’Ouest Cameroun pour lutter contre l’asthénie sexuelle et l’infertilité chez l’homme. Les travaux antérieursin vitro ont prouvé l’activité androgénique de son extrait au méthanol. Le présent travail porte sur la confirmationin vivo de son effet androgénique chez le rat mâle adulte. Cet extrait est quotidiennement administré (par gavage) pendant 30 jours aux doses de 0, 0,1, 1, 10 et 100 mg/kg respectivement à 5 groupes de 6 rats mâles.

Les animaux sont pesés tous les deux jours et au terme de 30 jours de traitement sont sacrifiés. Le sang est recueilli; le foie et les organes de reproduction (testicules, épididymes, vésicules séminales, prostate) prélevés et pesés. Le sang est utilisé pour le dosage de la testostérone du sérum par125I-RIA et de quelques marqueurs de toxicité du foie et des reins. D’autres indicateurs de l’intégrité cellulaire sont également estimés dans le foie.

Les résultats montrent que l’extrait au méthanol deB. alba n’a pas d’effet sur le poids corporel des animaux ainsi que sur celui des organes de reproduction. Après 30 jours de traitement, l’effet de l’extrait au méthanol deB. alba sur la production de testostérone est significativement élevé (p<0,0005) à la dose 1 mg/kg, alors qu’à partir de 10 mg/kg d’extrait, ce niveau de testostérone baisse, mais reste élevé par rapport au témoin. Toujours au niveau du sérum, le taux de créatinine et l’activité de l’alanine aminotransférase ne montrent pas de variation significative entre les animaux témoins et ceux traités aux différentes doses d’extrait.

Cette observation est identique quant aux paramètres mésurés dans le foie: aniline hydroxylase, taux de protéines, de glutathion, d’aldéhyde malonique.

Ces résultats suggèrent que l’extrait au méthanol deB. alba a une activité androgéniquein vivo qui est maximale à la dose 1 mg/kg de poids corporel.

Abstract

Basella alba is a plant used by some herbalists of the West province of Cameroon to enhance male virility and fertility. Previousin vitro studies have shown the androgenic activity of its methanol extract. This study therefore focused on confirmation of the androgenic activity of the methanol extract ofB. alba in vivo in male rats. A suspension of this extract in corn starch was administered daily to 5 groups of rats at doses of 0,0.1, 1, 10 and 100 mg/kg respectively for 30 days. The animals were weighed every second day during this period.

On the 31st day of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and blood was collected for serum assays. The liver and reproductive organs (testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles and prostates) were also collected and weighed. Serum testosterone level was determined by radio-immunoassay (125I-RIA) techniques, and various markers of liver and kidney toxicity (alanine aminotransferase and creatinine) were also assayed. Liver post-mitochondrial supernatant was used to estimate other markers of cell integrity, such as malondialdehyde, glutathione, and aniline hydroxylase activity.

The results showed that the methanol extract ofB. alba has no effect on the weight of the animal and reproductive organs compared to the control. After 30 days of treatment, serum testosterone levels were significantly increased (p<0.0005) up to the dose of 1 mg/kg, but decreased at higher dosages of the extract, although remained higher than that of controls. Aniline hydroxylase and aminotransferase activities, malondialdehyde, protein, glutathione and creatinine levels were not significantly altered by administration of the methanol extract ofB. alba.

These results suggest that the methanol extract ofB. alba has anin vivo androgenic activity with a maximum effect at the dose of 1 mg/kg body weight.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et de Toxicologie, Département de Biochimie, Université de Yaoundé I., France

    Edouard Akono Nantia, Paul F. Moundipa & Nathalie Sara E. Beboy

  2. Centre de Dermatologie et d’Andrologie, Université de Justus Liebig, Giessen, RFA

    Thomas K. Monsees

  3. Laboratoire de Biochimie EA 2608-USC INRA 2006, IBFA, Université de Caen, France

    Serge Carreau

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  1. Edouard Akono Nantia
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  2. Paul F. Moundipa
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  3. Nathalie Sara E. Beboy
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  4. Thomas K. Monsees
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  5. Serge Carreau
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Correspondence to Paul F. Moundipa.

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Nantia, E.A., Moundipa, P.F., Beboy, N.S.E. et al. Etude de l’effet androgénique de l’extrait au méthanol deBasella alba L. (Basellaceae) sur la fonction de reproduction du rat mâle. Androl. 17, 129–133 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03041166

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Basic and Clinical Andrology

ISSN: 2051-4190