title: Male rat hormone imbalance, testicular changes and toxicity associated with aqueous leaf extract of an antimalarial plant: Phyllanthus niruri.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phyllanthus niruri L. (Euphorbiaceae), a medicinal plant traditionally known for dissolving kidney stones, is used prophylactically as an antimalarial agent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was undertaken to determine its effect on some male hormones and other toxicological properties due to paucity of its data despite its wide use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats (100-140 g) were used. Group 1 [control group (C), n = 6] received water. Group 2 [low-dose test group (LD), n = 6] received 50 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.) aqueous leaf extract orally. Group 3 [high-dose test group (HD), n = 6] received 500 mg/kg b.wt. extract for 90 days. Upon sacrifice, among other organs the testes were harvested. Blood samples drawn were used for biochemical (including progesterone, estrogen and testosterone), cytotoxicity and hematological assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C, LD and HD estrogen values were 192 ± 25, 385 ± 122 and 962 ± 357 pg/ml, respectively. In the same order, progesterone values were 96 ± 24, 155 ± 45 and 320 ± 80 pg/ml, respectively. Testosterone levels were 5210 ± 1090, 4710 ± 220 and 4500 ± 580 pg/ml, respectively. Significant differences were observed in the estrogen and progesterone levels (p = 0.001). Degenerative changes were observed histologically. Cytotoxicity at 50% (CC50) was 10.0 µg/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This antimalarial plant is mildly cytotoxic with male antifertility properties.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana. gasare@chs.edu.gh
authors.forename: George Awuku
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Asare
authors.forename: Kwasi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bugyei
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fiawoyi
authors.forename: Isaac Julius
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Asiedu-Gyekye
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gyan
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Addo
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Otu-Nyarko
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nyarko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D029803:Phyllanthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D004967:Estrogens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone