Característica reprodutivas, bioquímicas e corporais de ratos suplementados com extratos de Tribulus terrestris e Lepidium meyenii

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the oral administration of extracts of Tribulus terrestris and Lepidium meyenii on reproductive, biochemical and body parameters in rats. Thirty-six male Wistar rats with initial weight of 210±18g were divided into six experimental groups (n = 6). Each group received daily, for 28 days, different doses of the dried extracts of T. terrestris and L. meyenii dispersed in distilled water: T. terrestris at a dose of 100mg/kg; L. meyenni at doses of 1g/kg and T. terrestris at doses of 75, 50 and 25mg/kg combined at doses of L. meyenni at 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75g/kg, respectively, and distilled water (control). T. terrestris increased (P <0.05) the testosterone concentration in the blood, regardless of dose. The use of the associations increased (P <0.05) the diameter of the duct and lumen epididymal in the tail of the epididymis. The combination of T. terrestris at doses of 75 and 50 mg/kg with L. meyenii at doses of 0.25 and 0.5g/kg increased significantly (P <0.05) the sperm concentration. There were no differences (P> 0.05) in the other seminal characteristics, live weight, weight relative to the liver, spleen, kidneys, epididymis, gonadosomatic index, serum levels of urea, creatinine, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, gamma glutamyl transferase, total cholesterol and fractions (HDL, LDL, VLDL), triglycerides, glucose, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. No histopathological changes were observed in the groups studied. It was concluded that the association of T. terrestris and L. meyenii in certain doses had a positive effect on serum levels of testosterone, sperm concentration and epididymal morphology, without evidence of side effects in the evaluated organs.