Effect of herbal extract Eurycoma longifolia (Physta®) on female reproductive hormones and bone biochemical markers: an ovariectomised rat model study (original) (raw)
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2012
Testosterone replacement is the choice of treatment in androgen-deficient osteoporosis. However, long-term use of testosterone is potentially carcinogenic. Eurycoma longifolia (EL) has been reported to enhance testosterone level and prevent bone calcium loss but there is a paucity of research regarding its effect on the bone structural parameters. This study was conducted to explore the bone structural changes following EL treatment in normal and androgen-deficient osteoporosis rat model. Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 12 months were divided into normal control, normal rat supplemented with EL, sham-operated, orchidectomised-control, orchidectomised with testosterone replacement, and orchidectomised with EL supplementation groups. Testosterone serum was measured both before and after the completion of the treatment. After 6 weeks of the treatment, the femora were processed for bone histomorphometry. Testosterone replacement was able to raise the testosterone level and restore the bone volume of orchidectomised rats. EL supplementation failed to emulate both these testosterone actions. The inability of EL to do so may be related to the absence of testes in the androgen deficient osteoporosis model for EL to stimulate testosterone production. .............. TTAShop Tongkat Ali - Alliance to fight against Tongkat Ali scams! More information under www.thetongkatalishop.com and www.buy-tongkatali.com
Journal of X-ray science and technology, 2018
Eurycoma longifolia (EL) is a well-known aphrodisiac herb for men. Recently, the crude extract of EL was reported to possess anti-osteoporotic activities. This study aims to determine the bone protective effects of the standardized quassinoid-rich EL extract in testosterone-deficient rat model. Ninety-six intact male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into baseline, sham, orchidectomized, and chemically castrated groups. Chemical castration was performed via subcutaneous injection of degarelix at 2 mg/kg. The orchidectomized and degarelix-induced rats were administered with vehicle, intramuscularly injected with testosterone once a week, or orally supplemented with EL extract at doses of 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg daily for 10 weeks. Bone mass, microarchitecture and strength were analyzed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), micro-CT and three-point bending test. Whole body bone mineral density and femoral bone mineral content significantly increased in testosterone gro...
Nutrients
Male osteoporosis is associated with higher rates of disability and mortality. Hence the search for suitable intervention and treatment to prevent the degeneration of skeletal health in men is necessary. Eurycoma longifolia (EL), a traditional plant with aphrodisiac potential may be used to treat and prevent male osteoporosis. The skeletal protective effect of quassinoid-rich EL extract, which has a high content of eurycomanone, has not been studied. This study aimed to determine whether EL could prevent skeletal deteriorations in gonadal hormone-deficient male rats. Ninety-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to baseline, sham-operated (Sham), orchidectomised or chemically castrated groups. Chemical castration was achieved via subcutaneous injection of degarelix at 2 mg/kg. The orchidectomised and degarelix-castrated rats were then divided into negative control groups (ORX, DGX), testosterone-treated groups (intramuscular injection at 7 mg/kg weekly) (ORX + TES, DGX + TES), and EL-supplemented groups receiving daily oral gavages at doses of 25 mg/kg (ORX + EL25, DGX + EL25), 50 mg/kg (ORX + EL50, DGX + EL50), and 100 mg/kg (ORX + EL100, DGX + EL100). Following 10 weeks of treatment, the rats were euthanized and their blood and femora were collected. Bone biochemical markers, serum testosterone, osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa β-ligand (RANKL) levels and histomorphometric indices were evaluated. Quassinoid-rich EL supplementation was found to reduce degenerative changes of trabecular structure by improving bone volume, trabecular number, and separation. A reduction in the percentage of osteoclast and increase in percentage of osteoblast on bone surface were also seen with EL supplementation. Dynamic histomorphometric analysis showed that the single-labeled surface was significantly decreased while the double-labeled surface was significantly increased with EL supplementations. There was a marginal but significant increase in serum testosterone levels in the ORX + EL25, DGX + EL50, and DGX + EL100 groups compared to their negative control groups. Quassinoid-rich EL extract was effective in reducing skeletal deteriorations in the androgen-deficient osteoporosis rat model.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012
Background: Eurycoma longifolia (EL) has been shown recently to protect against bone calcium loss in orchidectomised rats, the model for androgen-deficient osteoporosis. The mechanism behind this is unclear but it may be related to its ability to elevate testosterone levels or it may directly affect bone remodeling. The aim of this study is to determine the mechanism involved by investigating the effects of EL extract on serum testosterone levels, bone biomarkers, biomechanical strength and gene expression of Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (MCSF) in orchidectomised rats.
2021
Background Low testosterone levels cause physiological changes that compromise the quality of life in ageing men. A standardised water extract from the root of Eurycoma longifolia (EL), known as Physta®, is known to increase testosterone levels. Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Physta® in improving the testosterone levels and quality of life in ageing male subjects. Design This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 105 male subjects aged 50–70 years with a testosterone level <300 ng/dL, BMI ≥ 18 and ≤30.0 kg/m2. The subjects were given either Physta® 100 mg, 200 mg or placebo daily for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were changes in serum total and free testosterone levels. The secondary endpoints included changes in the level of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), thyroid function tests (T3, T4, TSH and Free T3) and cortisol. Changes in Ageing...
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012
Osteoporosis in elderly men is now becoming an alarming health issue due to its relation with a higher mortality rate compared to osteoporosis in women. Androgen deficiency (hypogonadism) is one of the major factors of male osteoporosis and it can be treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). However, one medicinal plant, Eurycoma longifolia Jack (EL), can be used as an alternative treatment to prevent and treat male osteoporosis without causing the side effects associated with TRT. EL exerts proandrogenic effects that enhance testosterone level, as well as stimulate osteoblast proliferation and osteoclast apoptosis. This will maintain bone remodelling activity and reduce bone loss. Phytochemical components of EL may also prevent osteoporosis via its antioxidative property. Hence, EL has the potential as a complementary treatment for male osteoporosis.
Estrogenic Effects of Euphorbia hirta L. Extract in Ovariectomized Rats
Pharmacognosy Journal, 2018
Context: Euphorbia hirta L. has been wildly used for its health benefits. It has been used as a decoction and to treat diarrhea, peptic ulcers, menstrual problems and venereal diseases. Aims: The study aims to investigate the estrogenic effects of E. hirta on ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods: The ovariectomized rats were divided into four groups, including those that received the vehicle (1% v/v Tween 80, p.o.), 17β-estradiol at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg B.W. and the ethanolic extract of E. hirta at the doses of 100 and 500 mg/kg B.W. These were administered daily for 14 days. Estrogenic activity was determined by analyzing the body, vaginal and uterine weight as well as the uterine and vaginal histopathology characteristics of the estrogen-induced response. Results: At the dose of 500 mg/kg B.W., the plant extract produced a significant increase in vaginal weight when compared with the ovariectomized rats, a slightly increase in the uterine weight and could induce hyperplastic epithelium and endometrial thickness of the vagina. Conclusion: The data in this work suggests that the plant crude extract showed weak estrogenic effects in ovariectomized rats and could be useful for health benefits for vagina atrophy of females during the menopause.
International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
Objective: Reproductive and developmental toxicities of Eurycoma longifolia aqueous extract (PHYSTA ® Methods: Eurycoma longifolia aqueous extract at a dose of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b. w. was administered daily by oral gavage during 14 day premating and 14 days mating period in both male and female, during gestation period and up to post natal day 3 in females. Animals were observed for clinical signs, morbidity, mortality, body weight development, food consumption and pub observation (number of live pups/litter, live birth index, implant sites, fetal resorption etc.). Male and females were sacrificed on day 29 and post natal day (PND) 4 respectively; then subjected to necropsy.) in male and female wistar rats were examined concerning its effect on male and female reproductive performance such as gonadal function, mating behavior, conception, development of the conceptus and parturition. Results: The result indicated non-significant predominant clinical signs, no mortality, and no toxicological relevance effect on body weight. In addition increased food consumption with no treatment related effect on litters, precoital interval and duration of gestation was observed. Pre and post natal data (Corpora lutea, implant sites, live pups, pre and post percent pre-implantation loss) remain unaffected. All pregnancies resulted in normal birth and delivery index remain unaffected. Survival of pups from PND 0 to PND 4 remained unaffected along with no treatment related gross external findings. No gross pathology findings and no statistically significant absolute and relative organ weight was observed. The histopathological evaluation does not revealed any lesions considered to be treatment related. Conclusion: In conclusion, the repeated dose administration of Eurycoma longifolia aqueous extract (PHYSTA ®) to male Wistar rats for 28-29 days and female Wistar rats up to 54 days at dosages of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg b.w. revealed no major toxicological findings. As per the present investigation the non-observed-adverse event level (NOAEL) for Eurycoma longifolia aqueous extract (PHYSTA ®
2016
Ethno medicinal plants viz. Vitex negundo L. (fruits), Linum usitatissimum L. (seeds) and Asteracantha longifolia Nees. (seeds) have been claimed for their potential use in women's health problems. These plants have been a part of various traditional formulations available in the market for the management of menopausal syndrome individually or in combination. The study aimed to standardize β-sitosterol rich extracts of V. negundo, L. usitatissimum and A. longifolia individually and in combination for the management of menopausal syndrome using ovariectomized rats for estrogenic activity. In the present work, extracts of V. negundo, L. usitatissimum and A. longifolia have been standardized using HPTLC in terms of their β-sitosterol content. These plants as well as their polyherbal combination were evaluated for their efficacy in terms of production of 17β-estrogen in ovariectomized rats. Effect on histoarchitecture of the uterus, uterine weight, changes glycogen levels, G6PDH, LD...
Andrologia, 2013
An aqueous extract of Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali; TA) roots is traditionally used to enhance male sexuality. Because previous studies are limited to only few sperm parameters or testosterone concentration, this study investigated the in vivo effects of TA on body and organ weight as well as functional sperm parameters in terms of safety and efficacy in the management of male infertility. Forty-two male rats were divided into a control, low-dose (200 mg kg(-1) BW) and high-dose (800 mg kg(-1) BW) group (n = 14). Rats were force-fed for 14 days and then sacrificed. Total body and organ weights of the prostate, testes, epididymides, gastrocnemius muscle and the omentum were recorded. Moreover, testosterone concentration, sperm concentration, motility, velocity, vitality, acrosome reaction and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were assessed. Whilst TA decreased BW by 5.7% (P = 0.0276) and omentum fat by 31.9% (P = 0.0496), no changes in organ weights were found for the prostate, testes and epididymides. Testosterone concentration increased by 30.2% (P = 0.0544). Muscle weight also increased, yet not significantly. Whilst sperm concentration, total and progressive motility and vitality increased significantly, MMP improved markedly (P = 0.0765) by 25.1%. Because no detrimental effect could be observed, TA appears safe for possible treatment of male infertility and ageing male problems.