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Abstract
Background and Purpose: While aloe vera has the capability of reducing libido regulating menstruation and being widely used there is scarce information on the effect of its alcoholic extract on the functions of pituitary-gonad axis. Therefore the present study aims at investigating the effect of Aloe vera alcoholic extract on spermatogenesis in male rat. Methods and Materials: In this experimental; study 45 male Wistar rats were divided in to five groups including 1 control 1 sham and three experimental groups. Each rat in the experimental groups was treated orally with 50 100 and 150 (mg/kg) doses of Aloe vera alcoholic extract for twenty one days after the extract was prepared via percolation. The sham group received distilled water and alcohol; while control rats received nothing. After twenty one days blood samples were taken from each group directly from ventricles. Blood samples were used to measure the concentration changes of LH FSH and testosterone hormones. Obtained data were statistically analyzed using Tukey test and LSD. Results: Concentrations of FSH in the average and maximum experimental groups (2.963.51 and 2.154.85 respectively) significantly reduced in comparison with the control group (3.112.16). Also concentrations of testosterone in the average and maximum experimental groups (6.183.41 and 3.925.27 respectively) significantly reduced in comparison with the control group (6.857.19). However no significant changes were observed in the concentrations of LH across experimental and control groups. Conclusion: Based on the results Aloe vera extract probably has anti-gonadotropin and antiandrogenic characteristics because of beta-sitosterol ascorbic acid P-coumaric acid coumarin and aloe emodin. It can cause disorders in the secretion of gonadotropin hormone (FSH) and testosterone.
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