title: Androgenic activity of the Thai traditional male potency herb, Butea superba Roxb., in female rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Butea superba Roxb. (Leguminosae) is a well-known Thai male potency herb with androgenic and anti-estrogenic activities. We evaluated whether oral administration of Butea superba has an androgenic or anti-estrogenic activity in female rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal and ovariectomized adult female rats were each subdivided into five groups, DW, BS-10, BS-50, BS-250 and TP, and gavaged with 0, 10, 50 and 250 mg/kg BW/day of the crude of Butea superba and subcutaneously injected with 6 mg/kg BW/day of testosterone propionate (TP), respectively, during the treatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In intact rats, only BS-250 increased the uterine thickness and the number of uterine glands, and could induce a prolonged diestrous phase. In ovariectomized rats, treatment with BS-50 as well as BS-250 increased the uterine thickness and the number of uterine glands. However, serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were also increased. TP reduced serum follicle stimulating hormone and LH levels with the appearance of anestrous cycle, and could significantly increase the relative uterine weight and thickness and the number of uterine glands in both intact and ovariectomized rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orally administered Butea superba tubers have an androgenic effect on the reproductive organs of intact and ovariectomized rats, and exhibit anti-estrogenic activity on LH secretion in ovariectomized rats.
authors.affiliation: Primate Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phyathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Suchinda.m@chula.ac.th
authors.forename: Suchinda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malaivijitnond
authors.forename: A-Ngun
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ketsuwan
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taya
authors.forename: Wichai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cherdshewasart
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000728:Androgens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D031290:Butea / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035281:Plant Tubers; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D013785:Thailand; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone