title: Supplementation with Pfaffia glomerata (Sprengel) Pedersen does not affect androgenic-anabolic parameters in male rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paffia spp (Amaranthacea) has a widespread use of in Brazil as a possible hormonal supplement and a substitute of Panax ginseng, although information on its reproductive effects is missing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluated possible anabolic-androgenic or anti-androgenic effects of Pfaffia glomerata (PG) extract using intact eight-months-old male rats and pre-pubertal castrated rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three different dose levels of PG (8.5, 30 and 85 mg/kg/day) were administered to eight-months-old rats for 28 days or to castrated males for 7 days (Hershberger assay). In the experiment with intact animals, 24h fecal samples were collected for quantification of fecal metabolites of androgens throughout treatment. At the end of the treatment period, animals were euthanized for evaluation of serum testosterone, reproductive organ weights, number of spermatids per testis, diameter of seminiferous tubules and cross-sectional area of soleus muscle fibers. In the Hershberber assay, androgenic or anti-androgenic effects were evaluated by the weights of androgen-dependent tissues: ventral prostate, seminal vesicle, glans penis and levator ani muscle/bulbocavernosus muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No effects were observed in the concentrations of fecal metabolites of androgens monitored during the treatment of intact eight-months-old rats. Moreover, at the end of treatment, no changes were seen in any of the investigated parameters. In the Hershberger assay, the PG extract did not induce androgenic or anti-androgenic effects at the dose levels tested. Significant effects were only observed in animals treated with testosterone and testosterone plus flutamide, which were used as positive controls for androgenicity and anti-androgenicity, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the dose levels tested, PG extract does not induce anabolic-androgenic or anti-androgenic effects in rats.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ney Felipe
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anderson Joel
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Martino-Andrade
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Dos Santos Lourenço
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliane Centeno
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Katherinne Maria
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Spercoski
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nihi
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 632, Avenida Prof. Lothário Meissner, 80210-170, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marilis Dallarmi
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Miguel
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 632, Avenida Prof. Lothário Meissner, 80210-170, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinícius Bednarczuk
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Dalsenter
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: moraisrn@ufpr.br.
authors.forename: Rosana Nogueira
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Morais
mesh_terms: D027703:Amaranthaceae; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D009919:Orchiectomy; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013076:Sperm Count; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Androgenic effects; Pfaffia glomerata; Rats; Testosterone