Androgenic activity of the Thai traditional male potency herb, Butea superba Roxb., in female rats.
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.
Malaivijitnond
Suchinda
S
Primate Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phyathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Suchinda.m@chula.ac.th
Ketsuwan
A-Ngun
AN
Watanabe
Gen
G
Taya
Kazuyoshi
K
Cherdshewasart
Wichai
W
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
D000728:Androgens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone