Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A), pp. 357 - 372 (2010) Possible Outcome of Fenugreek Seeds Powder Administration on the Fertility of Female and Male Albino Rat M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill Radiation Biology Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt.. E–mail: [email protected] Received: 28/9/2009. Accepted: 7/3/2010. ABSTRACT Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is an annual plant from the family of Papilionaceae-Leguminosae that has been credited with many medicinal properties. The current study aims to evaluate the possible fertility activity of fenugreek seeds powder on female and male albino rats. To achieve the theme, fenugreek seeds powder (200 mg/rat) were daily administered orally to both female and male Wistar rats for 15 and 30 consecutive days, after which the rats were sacrificed for both biochemical and histopathological observations. Fenugreek treatment significantly decreased the serum cholesterol levels in both female and male rats with a marked increase in the ovary and testis cholesterol levels following 30 days of consecutive administration. The circulating serum female hormones showed an initial elevation at the end of 15 days of fenugreek intake followed by a significant drop in the group of rats that continued to receive the daily fenugreek dose for 30 days. These observations were supported by the notable decline in the ovarian weights further validated by their ovarian histological sections revealing remarkable dissolution of some follicles and prominent abundance of inflammatory cells. In the 30 days interval treated males, the serum testosterone hormone concentrations significantly declined and the testis weights were reduced with evident damage to the seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissues as shown by the histopathological picture of testis tissue sections. Accordingly, it can be deduced that fenugreek seeds powder exert a significant antifertility adverse effect on the female and male rats when supplemented at a considerable dose for an extended time interval. 358 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) INTRODUCTION Fenugreek is an annual herb widely grown in India, Egypt and Middle Eastern countries (1,2,3). Its seeds are commonly used for flavoring and as a spice in curries due to their strong flavor and aroma. Fenugreek is known to lower blood glucose level and partially restore the activities of key enzymes of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism close to normal values in various animal model systems (4). It can increase the erythrocyte insulin receptors and peripheral glucose utilization, thus showing improved pancreatic function (5). The antidiabetic and hypocholesterolemic activity of fenugreek is primarily associated with the defatted fraction of its seeds (6-8)and can be largely attributed to their saponin and high fiber content (1,2,9) . As previously identified, fenugreek seeds contain about 12% by weight steroidal saponins (including diosgenin and yamogenin) which are the building blocks for various steroids, including cholesterol and male and female sex hormones (10). The steroidal extract of fenugreek has been shown to exert an antifertility and antiestrogenic activity in female rats (11). Also, feeding fenugreek seeds to male albino rats (100 mg/day/rat) for 60 days increased their testicular and serum cholesterol causing a drop in the circulating androgen and hence altered the testicular histoarchitecture (12). It has also been documented that low dose (0.05 ml/mouse) of fenugreek oil intake showed no impaired effect on follicular development and ovulation rate in the ovaries of the treated mice, whereas larger doses of fenugreek oil (0.1 or 0.15 ml/ mouse) revealed marked congestion of interstitial ovarian blood vessels and presence of numerous mature ovarian follicles and multiple corpora lutea in ovaries of mice (13). Furthermore, fenugreek seeds (30% in a diet) have been incriminated for their negative impact on the testicular tissue as evidenced by the damage of interstitial tissue, the decrease in the number of seminiferous tubules and mild spermatogenic hypoplasia (14). Consequently, the current study intends to appraise the female and male reproductive response in different rat groups post fenugreek oral intake throughout different time intervals holding several biochemical and histological parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experimental animals A total number of 24 female and 24 male adult albino rats, Sprague Dawley, weighing 120-150 g were caged separately (males apart from females). Standard rodent pellets purchased from the Oil and Soap Company, Egypt and tap water were provided ad libitum. 359 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) Fenugreek, GNC herbal plus, FINGER PRINTED, was purchased from General Nutrition Corp. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (USA). Fenugreek seeds were available in the form of capsules, each containing 500 mg Fenugreek powder. The powder content of each capsule was dissolved in 10 ml of distilled water and every rat was daily orally administered 4ml Fenugreek solution (200 mg / rat) via an oral gavage for 15 or 30 consecutive days. Experimental Design A number of 12 female and 12 male rats were kept as control whereas 12 female and 12 male rats were fenugreek treated. Oral daily intake of either distilled water to the control animals or fenugreek solution to the treated ones were administered via an oral gavage. Vaginal smears were checked daily during the experimentation. Control and treated female rats were chosen to be either in the metoestrus or dioestrus stage at the beginning of the experiment. Experiments were performed according to the international guidelines of animal handling and care (15). Animals were divided into 4 female groups and 4 male ones as follows: Group 1: A number of 12 female virgin normal rats receiving an oral daily dose of 4 ml distilled water for 30 consecutive days served as normal control. Group 2: A number of 12 female virgin rats receiving an oral daily dose of 4 ml Fenugreek solution (200 mg / rat) for 30 consecutive days. Group 3: A number of 12 male normal rats receiving an oral daily dose of 4 ml distilled water for 30 consecutive days served as normal control. Group 4: A number of 12 male rats receiving an oral daily dose of 4 ml Fenugreek solution (200 mg / rat) for 30 consecutive days. A number of 6 animals of each group were sacrificed on the 15th day of treatment while the other 6 rats were sacrificed at the end of the experimentation period (30 days). On the assigned day, after being anaesthetized by light ether, blood was collected by heart puncture after which the serum was separated by centrifugation and then stored frozen at -20°C in small vials. Concomitantly, the rats of each experimental group are cut open, the ovaries and testes were removed, weighed and immediately fixed in buffered formol. Sections were processed routinely for paraffin embedding and sectioned at 6µ then stained with haematoxylin and eosin (HE) and mounted with Canada Balsam. They were then examined by Olympus light microscope to detect the 360 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) histological or histopathological changes in the ovaries and testes induced by fenugreek treatment. For biochemical analysis, serum and tissue content of cholesterol were assayed according to Thomas(16). Female and male hormones were determined by radioimmunoassay. Serum Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Progesterone, Estradiol, Luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone were assayed according to Santner (17), Autrere & Benson (18), Bergquist et al. (19), Burtis & Ashwood (20) and Albertini & Ekins (21), respectively. Statistical evaluation of the data was carried out according to Snedecor & Cochran (22). Treatment means were compared using Student’s t-test. RESUITS AND DISCUSSION The effect of oral administration of fenugreek seeds powder on some physiological subjects in female and male rat groups is represented through data displayed in Tables 1, 2 & 3. Table 1 shows a significant decrease in the serum cholesterol concentration in both females and males (- 10.73% & - 10.83% respectively) following 15 days of subsequent treatment with a further significant decrease in both sexes (- 19.6% in♀ & - 18.4% in♂) post 30 days of treatment as compared to the relevant control groups. However, in ovary and testis tissues, cholesterol levels show non-significant change after 15 days (+18.82% in♀ & + 11.21% in♂) but after 30 days they show significant increase in both ovary and testis (+ 37.36% & + 36.63% respectively). Table (1): Effect of fenugreek seeds powder administration on serum and tissue cholesterol level in different rat groups. Serum cholesterol mg/dl Cholesterol in testis and ovary tissues mg/g ♀ ♂ ♀ ♂ 70.8 ±1.66 72.0 ± 1.05 8.5 ± 0.8 10.7 ± 0.29 Control 15 days 63.2 ± 2.00* 64.2± 1.97* 10.1 ± 0.63 11.9 ± 0.88 Fenugreek (- 10.73%) (- 10.83%) (+18.82%) (+ 11.21%) treated 15 days 72.3 ± 2.23 72.9± 1.88 9.1 ± 0.43 10.1 ± 0.51 Control 30 days 58.1± 2.16* 59.5± 1.31* 12.5 ± 0.75* 13.8 ± 0.73* Fenugreek (- 19.6%) (- 18.4%) (+ 37.36%) (+ 36.63%) treated 30 days Each value represents the mean of 6 records. Values between brackets show percentage of change. *: Significantly different from control at P≤ 0.05. Moreover, Table 2 shows that 15 days of fenugreek treatment caused a significant increase in the level of female hormones (FSH, Progesterone and Es) (+69.3%, + 53.79% & +11.38% respectively), whereas 30 days induced a 361 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) significant decrease in FSH & progesterone hormones (-23.65% & -26% respectively) and a nonsignificant change in the estrogen level (-5.10%) as compared to the female sex hormones of the control groups. Table (2): Effect of fenugreek seeds powder administration on serum folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone and estradiol (E2) in female rats. FSH Progesterone Estradiol (E2) pg/dl ng/ml ng/ml 2.25±0.21 2.9±0.32 23.45±0.31 Control 15 days 3.81±0.34* 4.46±0.36* 26.12±0.29* Fenugreek (+69.3%) (+ 53.79%) (+11.38%) treated 15 days 2.41±0.19 3.0±0.22 23.9±0.33 Control 30 days 1.84±0.09* 2.22±0.16* 22.68±0.39 Fenugreek (-23.65%) (-26%) (-5.10%) treated 30 days Each value represents the mean of 6 records. Values between brackets show percentage of change. *: Significantly different from control at P≤ 0.05. Also, 30 days of successive daily fenugreek seeds powder treatment caused a significant decrease in LH and testosterone male sex hormones (15.1% & -13.23% respectively) as compared to the control values as displayed in Table 3. Table (3): Effect of fenugreek seeds powder administration on serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone level in male rat groups. LH Testosterone ng/ml mIu/ml 70.2±1.2 86.2±1.13 Control 15 days 73.1±1.8 90.2±2.5 Fenugreek treated 15 (+4.13%) (+4.64%) days 71.0±1.6 86.9±1.3 Control 30 days 60.3±1.5* 75.4±1.0* Fenugreek treated 30 (-15.1%) (-13.23%) days Each value represents the mean of 6 records. Values between brackets show percentage of change. *: Significantly different from control at P≤ 0.05. Moreover, the data displayed in Table 4 indicate that the weights of female and male reproductive organs, namely the ovary and testis, declined but with a higher percentage following 30 days of fenugreek intake (-50% & -42% respectively) as compared to the control rats. 362 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) Table 4: Ovarian and testicular weights following fenugreek seeds powder administration in female and male rat groups. Ovarian weight (mg) Testicular weight (g) 0.03±0.00 1.66±0.05 Control 15 days Fenugreek treated 15 days 0.024±0.00* -20% 1.36±0.02* -18% Control 30 days Fenugreek treated 30 days 0.04±0.00 0.02±0.00* -50% 1.62±0.03 0.94±0.16* -42% Each value represents the mean of 6 records. Values between brackets show percentage of change. *: Significantly different from control at P≤ 0.05. Histopathological investigation of ovarian tissues from the fenugreek treated group for 15 days showed high follicular development in the ovarian section as represented in Figure 2 with respect to the control one displayed in Figure 1. Figure 1: Photomicrograph of a section in the ovary of a control rat receiving distilled water for 15 days showing normal developing ovarian follicle with mature corpus luteum (m), normal granulose cells (g) and theca cells (th) (x200). 363 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) Figure 2: Photomicrograph of a section in the ovary of a rat orally treated with fenugreek for 15 consecutive days showing different stages of developed ovarian follicles (f) (x200). However, the 30 days fenugreek treated group showed remarkable dissolution of the ovarian follicles surrounded by inflammatory cells as well as high content of fibroblasts (Figure 4). Figure 3: Photomicrograph of a section in the ovary of a normal rat receiving 4ml distilled water for 30 days showing: 1.well-defined germinal epithelium, 2. normal tunica albuginea, 3. normal primordial follicles, 4. normal primary follicles, 5. well-defined corpus luteum with normal granulose cells and thecal cells (x200). 364 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) Figure 4: Photomicrograph of a section in the ovary of a rat orally treated with fenugreek for 30 days showing 1. dissolution of the ovarian follicles. 2. high content of fibroblasts filled the section. 3. inflammatory cells around the dissolved follicles (x200). Moreover, testis sections of male rats administered fenugreek for 15 days represented in Figure 6 showed degeneration of some spermatogenic cells together with arrest of maturation at spermatid level when compared to their control section displayed in Figure 5. However, the consequences of fenugreek treatment for 30 days (Figure 8) were more deleterious where the seminiferous tubules showed disrupted basement membranes with necrotic changes in some germinal cells and abnormal aggregation of some sperm cells. Also, degeneration of interstitial stroma and congestion of blood capillaries were prominent. 365 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) Figure 5: Photomicrograph of a transverse section of a testis of a control rat ingesting 4ml distilled water for 15 consecutive days showing: -Normal seminiferous tubules embedded in a loose connective tissue stroma containing interstitial Leydig cells (L) - Typical arrangement of the germ cells including: - Spermatogonia (S) - Primary spermatocytes (Ps) - Spermatid (Sp) - Spermatozoa (Spz) (x 200). Figure 6: Photomicrograph of a section of a rat testis orally treated with fenugreek for 15 days showing degeneration of spermatogenic cells and arrest of maturation at spermatid level (A) (x 200). 366 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) Figure 7: Photomicrograph of a transverse section of a testis of a control rat ingesting 4ml of distilled water for 30 consecutive days illustrating the usual pattern of the seminiferous tubules shown in Figure 1 (x 200). Figure 8: Photomicrograph of a section of a testis of a rat orally treated with fenugreek for 30 days displaying: - Disruption of the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubule (D). - Necrotic changes in the germinal cells. - Exfoliation and abnormal aggregation of sperm cells. - Congested and dilated capillaries (C). - Disruption or degeneration of interstitial stroma (x 200). 367 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) DISCUSSION Besides the common known functions of fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum) to lower total cholesterol, promote fertility and promote milk production, fenugreek seeds have also been shown to exert an antifertility activity (11, 12, 23-26) due to their rich content of steroidal saponins (27). These steroidal saponins, constituting about 12% by weight of fenugreek seeds, are the building blocks for various steroids, including cholesterol and male and female sex hormones (10). The data presented herein revealed that daily oral administration of fenugreek seeds powder (200 mg/rat) to female and male rats brought about a significant decrease in the serum cholesterol level after 15 days followed by a further decrease after 30 days. This observed hypocholesterolemic effect which is proportional to the longer period of fenugreek intake may be attributed to the rich saponin and high fiber content present in fenugreek seeds (28) or to an increase in the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids or else to an increased fecal excretion of bile acids and neutral sterols (29). Moreover, the ovary and testis cholesterol significant increase in the 30 days fenugreek treated rat groups might indicate non-utilizing of cholesterol by these mammalian cells in the synthesis of steroid hormones, due to the rich abundance of steroidal saponins (containing these steroid hormones) in fenugreek seeds (11). In the current work, 15 days of 200 mg/rat supplementation of fenugreek seeds powder resulted in significant increase in FSH, progesterone and estrogen hormones in female rats. These findings were confirmed by the high follicular development in the ovarian sections as displayed by the histological picture following 15 days of fenugreek administration. The steroidal components present in fenugreek seeds are precursor to form estrogens. Estrogens, in which they are one of steroidal hormones in the ovary (30) induce a sudden increase in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion from the hypothalamus which stimulates secretion of folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary. FSH induces follicles to grow and increase in size (31). Therefore, the present observed hormonal elevation and follicular development might be a result of an effect of these seeds on the stimulation of the pituitary-ovarian axes to secrete FSH which improves maturation and 368 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) ovulation rates of oocytes resulting in increased corpus luteum number and progesterone levels in the circulation (14). However, supplementation of these seeds for a longer period namely 30 days of daily intake resulted in significant depression in female hormone levels, accompanied by apparent regression in their ovarian weight, further validated by their ovarian histological sections revealing remarkable dissolution of some follicles and prominent abundance of inflammatory cells. The observed decline in the circulating estrogen level may be due to the negative feedback mechanism of hormone system (32) since the excess estrogenic activity of fenugreek seeds for 30 days might have disturbed the female reproductive physiology. Since the structural and functional integrity of the reproductive tissues depend on the circulating level of estrogen, therefore any small change in estrogen level may result in reduction in the weights of the reproductive organs (33). Accordingly, the low estrogen level recorded in the present study might not have been enough to maintain the ovarian weights (11). It can thus be concluded that the mechanism of action of fenugreek on the ovarian activity may be attributed to the endocrine influence and/or the chemicals components of fenugreek (13). In case of male rats, administration of the high dose of fenugreek seeds powder (200 mg/rat) for 30 days caused significant decrease in circulating LH and testosterone hormones in addition to a significant reduction in testis weight. This was evidenced by the histopathological picture displaying degeneration of some spermatogenic cells, necrotic changes in the germinal cells and prominent disruption of the interstitial stroma. The negative impact of fenugreek seeds on the male structural and functional integrity of testicular tissue may support the hypothesis that a component of these seeds may have a direct toxic effect on the seminiferous tubules and the interstitial (Leydig) cells of the testis responsible for the synthesis of androgens (12, 14). Therefore, it can be concluded that supplementation of fenugreek seeds powder at a considerable high dose of 200mg/rat/day over a short period of 15 days only revealed a positive fertility stimulatory activity on the female rats or a negligible reproductive effect on male ones whereas a significant antifertility adverse effect on the female and male rats has been recorded attributable to the long period of 30 days fenugreek daily intake at the same dose level. 369 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) REFERENCES 1. AL-Habori, M. and Raman, A. (1998) Antidiabetic and hypocholesterolaemic effect of fenugreek. Phytother. Res., 12:233– 42. 2. AL-Habori, M. and Raman, A. (2002) Pharmacological properties of Trigonella foenum graecum. In: Petropoulos GA, editor. Medicinal and aromatic plants — industrial profiles. London7 Taylor & Francis, 162–82. 3. Alarcon-Aguilara, F.J., Roman-Ramos, R., Perez-Gutierrez, S., AguilarContreras, A., Contreras-Weber, C.C.and Flores-Saenz, J.L. (1998) Study of the anti-hyperglycemic effect of plants used as antidiabetics. J. Ethnopharmacol., 61(2):101-10. 4. Amin, A., Alkaabi, A., Al-Falasi, S. and Daoud, S.A. (2005) Chemopreventive activities of Trigonella foenum graecum (Fenugreek) against breast cancer. Cell Biol. Int., 29(8):687-94. 5. Raghuram, T.C., Sharma, R.D., Sivakumar, S.H. and Sahay, B.K. (1994) Effect of fenugreek seeds on intravenous glucose disposition in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Phytother. Res., 8:83-86. 6. Valette, G., Sauvaire, Y., Baccou, J.C. and Ribes, A. (1984) Hypocholesterolaemic effect of fenugreek seeds in dogs. Atherosclerosis, 50:105–11. 7. Ribes, G., Sauvaire, Y., Baccou, J.C., Valette, G., Ghenon, D. and Trimbia, E.R. (1984) Effects of fenugreek seed on endocrine pancreatic secretion in dogs. Ann. Nutr. Metab., 28:37– 43. 8. Ribes, G., Sauvaire, Y., Da Costa, C., Baccou, J.C. and LoubatieresMariani, M.M. (1986) Antidiabetic effects of sub-fraction from fenugreek seed in diabetic dogs. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 182:159– 66. 9. Madar, Z., Abel, R., Samish, S. and Arad J. (1988) Glucose lowering effect of fenugreek in non-insulin dependent diabetics. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr., 42:51. 10. Jensen, R. (1992) Fenugreek-overlooked but not forgotten. UCLA Lactation Alumni Association Newsletter, 1:2-3. 11. Sharma, J.D. and Anjula Bhinda (2005) Antifertility activity of steroidal extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum (seeds) in female rats. Asian J. Exp. Sci., 19(1): 115-120. 12. Kamal, L.R., Yadav, R. and Sharma, J.D. (1993) Efficacy of the steroidal fraction of fenugreek seed extract on fertility of male albino rats. Phytother. Res., 7:134 – 8. 370 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) 13. Aziza, M. Hassan, Wagdy, K. B. Khalil and Kawkab, A. Ahmed (2006) Genetic and histopathology studies on mice: effect of fenugreek oil on the efficiency of ovarian and liver tissues. African Journal of Biotechnology, 5(5): 477. 483. 14. Kassem, A., Al-Aghbari, A., AL-Habori, M. and Al-Mamary, M. (2006) Evaluation of the potential antifertility effect of fenugreek seeds in male and female rabbits. Contraception, 73(3):301-6. 15. N.I.H. National Institute of Health (1985) National Research Council, GUIDE FOR THE CARE AND USE OF LABORATORY ANIMALS. Department of Health and Human Services, NRC, Committee on Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources. DHHS Publication No. (NIH) 85-23. 16. Thomas, L. (1992) Labor und Diagnose, 4th ed., Enzymatic determination of total serum cholesterol. Marburg: Die Medizinische Verfagsgsellschaft, 208. 17. Santner, S., Santen, R., Kulin, H., and Demers, L. (1981) A model for validation of radioimmunoassay kit reagents: measurement of follitropin and lutropin in blood and urine. Clin. Chem., 27: 1892-1895. 18. Autrere, M.B. and Benson, H. (1976) Progesterone: an overview and recent advances. Jour. Par. Sci., 65(6): 783-800. 19. Bergquist, C., Nillius, S.J. and Wide, L. (1983) Human gonadotropin therapy. I. Serum estradiol and progesterone patterns during conceptual cycles. Fertil. Steril., 39(6):761-5. 20. Burtis, C. A. and Ashwood, E. R. (1994) Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 920. 21. Albertini, A and Ekins, R.P. (eds) (1982) Free hormones in blood: proceedings of the Advanced Course on Free Hormone Assays and Neuropeptides. Amsterdam: Elsevier Biomedical Press 22. Snedecor, G. W. and Cochran, W. G. (1980) Statistical Methods. 7th edition, Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. 23. Jain, S.C., Kapoor, A. and Lohiya, N.K. (1987) Triogonella foenum– graecum Linn.- A Hypoglycaemic agent. Indian J. Pharm. Sci., 49(3): 113114. 371 M. F. Ibrahim and G. A. El-Tawill /J. Rad. Res. Appl. Sci., Vol. 3, No.2(A) (2010) 24. Setty, B.S., Kamboj, V.P. and Khanna, N.M.(1977) Screening of Indian plants for biological activity, PartVII : Spermicidial activity of Indian plants. Indian J. Exp. Biol., 16: 228. 25. Sharma, J.D., Mathur, L. and Kamal, R. (1994a) Contraceptive efficacy of fenugreek extract on male mice. Indian Science. Cong. 81st Session, 3-8, Jaipur. 26. Sharma, J.D., Mathur, L. and Kamal, R. (1994b) Efficacts of the steroidal extract of fenugreek seeds on fertility of male rabbits. Proc. National Symp on Reproductive Health Care & 5th annual meeting of Reproduction and Fertility 4-6: 91. 27. Hardman, R. (1969) Recent work on plant products of therapeutic interest. Phytochemistry, 19(4): 698-700. 28. Sauvaire, Y., Ribes, G., Baccou, J.C. and Loubatieres-Mariani, M.M. (1991) Implication of steroid saponins and sapogenins in the hypocholesterolaemic effect of fenugreek. Lipids, 26:191– 7. 29. Venkatesan, N., Devaraj, S.N. and Devaraj, H. (2003) Increased binding of LDL and VLDL to apo B,E receptors of hepatic plasma membrane of rats treated with Fibernat. Eur. J. Nutr., 42(5):262-71. 30. Ying, S.Y. and Zhang, Z. (1999) Ovarian hormones, overview. In: Knobil E (ed) Encyclopedia of Reproduction, San Diego, California, Academic Press; Vol. III:578-582. 31. Espey, L.L. (1999) Ovulation. In: Knobil E (ed) Encyclopedia of Reproduction. San Diego, California, Academic Press, Vol. III: 605-614. 32. Elbetieha, A., Al-Hamood, M.H.and Al-Kofahi, A. (1996) Antiimplantation potential of some medicinal plants in female rats. Arch STD/HIV, 10:181–7. 33. Behrman, H.R. and Armstrong, D.T. (1969) Cholesterol esterase stimulating by luteinizing hormone in luteinised rat ovaries. Endocrinology, 85: 474-475. ﻣﺠﻠﺔ اﻟﺒﺤﻮث اﻹﺷﻌﺎﻋﯿﺔ واﻟﻌﻠﻮم اﻟﺘﻄﺒﯿﻘﯿﺔ ﻣﺠﻠﺪ 3ﻋﺪد )2أ( ص ص (2010) 372 – 357 اﻟﺘﺄﺛﯿﺮ اﻟﺴﻠﺒﻲ اﻟﻤﺤﺘﻤﻞ ﻟﺘﻌﺎﻃﻲ ﻣﺴﺤﻮق ﺑﺬور ﻧﺒﺎت اﻟﺤﻠﺒﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺧﺼﻮﺑﺔ إﻧﺎث وذﻛﻮر اﻟﺠﺮذان. ﻣﮭﺎ ﻓﻮزي إﺑﺮاھﯿﻢ و ﻏﺎدة أﺣﻤﺪ اﻟﻄﻮﯾﻞ. ﻗﺴﻢ ﺑﺤﻮث ﺑﯿﻮﻟﻮﺟﯿﺎ اﻹﺷﻌﺎع ،اﻟﻤﺮﻛﺰ اﻟﻘﻮﻣﻲ ﻟﺒﺤﻮث وﺗﻜﻨﻮﻟﻮﺟﯿﺎ اﻹﺷﻌﺎع ،اﻟﻘﺎھﺮة ،ﻣﺼﺮ. ﻧﻈﺮاً ﻟﻤﺎ ﯾﺘﻤﺘﻊ ﺑﮫ ﻧﺒﺎت اﻟﺤﻠﺒﺔ )ﺗﺮاﯾﺠﻮﻧﯿﻼ ﻓﻮﻧﻢ ﺟﺮاﺳﯿﻮم( اﻟﺴﻨﻮي ﻣﻦ ﻣﻤﯿﺰات ﻃﺒﯿﺔ ﻋﺪﯾﺪة ﻓﺈن ھﺬا اﻟﺒﺤﺚ ﯾﮭﺪف إﻟﻰ ﺗﻘﯿﯿﻢ ﻓﻌﺎﻟﯿﺔ ھﺬا اﻟﻨﺒﺎت ﻋﻠﻰ ﺧﺼﻮﺑﺔ إﻧﺎث وذﻛﻮر اﻟﺠﺮذان .وﻟﺘﺤﻘﯿﻖ اﻟﮭﺪف ﻓﻘﺪ ﺗﻢ إﻋﻄﺎء ﻣﺴﺤﻮق ﺑﺬور ﻧﺒﺎت اﻟﺤﻠﺒﺔ ﺑﺠﺮﻋﺔ ﻋﺎﻟﯿﺔ ) 200ﻣﻠﺠﻢ ﻟﻜﻞ ﻓﺄر( ﯾﻮﻣﯿﺎً ﻋﻦ ﻃﺮﯾﻖ اﻟﻔﻢ ﻟﻤﺪة 15 و 30ﯾﻮﻣﺎًَ ﻣﺘﺘﺎﻟﯿﺔ ﺗﻢ ﺑﻌﺪھﺎ ذﺑﺢ اﻟﺠﺮذان ﻟﻔﺤﺺ اﻟﻨﺘﺎﺋﺞ اﻟﺒﯿﻮﻛﯿﻤﯿﺎﺋﯿﺔ واﻟﮭﯿﺴﺘﻮﺑﺎﺛﻮﻟﻮﺟﯿﺔ. وﻗﺪ أوﺿﺤﺖ اﻟﻨﺘﺎﺋﺞ اﻧﺨﻔﺎض ﻣﻠﺤﻮظ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺴﺘﻮى اﻟﻜﻮﻟﺴﺘﺮول ﻓﻲ دم ﻛﻞ ﻣﻦ إﻧﺎث وذﻛﻮر اﻟﺠﺮذان ﻣﻊ زﯾﺎدة ﻣﻠﺤﻮﻇﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻧﺴﺒﺔ اﻟﻜﻮﻟﺴﺘﺮول ﻓﻲ أﻧﺴﺠﺔ ﻣﺒﺎﯾﺾ وﺧﺼﻲ اﻟﺠﺮذان ﺑﻌﺪ ﺗﻨﺎوﻟﮭﺎ ﻣﺴﺤﻮق ﺑﺬور ﻧﺒﺎت اﻟﺤﻠﺒﺔ ﻟﻤﺪة 30ﯾﻮم ﻣﺘﺘﺎﻟﯿﺔ .ﻛﻤﺎ أﻇﮭﺮت ﻧﺘﺎﺋﺞ ﻗﯿﺎس ﻣﺴﺘﻮى ھﺮﻣﻮﻧﺎت اﻷﻧﻮﺛﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺪم ارﺗﻔﺎع ﻣﺒﺪﺋﻲ ﺑﻌﺪ 15ﯾﻮم ﻣﻦ اﻟﺘﻌﺎﻃﻲ أﺗﺒﻌﮫ اﻧﺨﻔﺎض ﻣﻠﺤﻮظ ﺑﻌﺪ 30ﯾﻮم .وﻗﺪ ﺗﺄﻛﺪت ھﺬه اﻟﻨﺘﺎﺋﺞ ﺑﺎﻟﻨﻘﺺ اﻟﻤﻠﺤﻮظ ﻓﻲ وزن اﻟﻤﺒﺎﯾﺾ وﺑﺎﻟﻨﺘﺎﺋﺞ اﻟﮭﯿﺴﺘﻮﻟﻮﺟﯿﺔ اﻟﺘﻲ أوﺿﺤﺖ اﻟﺘﺤﻠﻞ اﻟﻮاﺿﺢ ﻟﻠﺤﻮﯾﺼﻼت واﻟﺰﯾﺎدة اﻟﻤﻠﺤﻮﻇﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻋﺪد اﻟﺨﻼﯾﺎ اﻟﻤﻠﺘﮭﺒﺔ.
© Copyright 2026 Paperzz