Isolation of bioactive constituents from the seeds of blepharis persica burm F O Kuntze

Abstract

Disorders of the male reproductive system were the cause of childlessness in nearly fifty percent of couples. The treatment of male infertility requires a differential diagnosis. Moreover, the treatment of male infertility with conventional allopathic treatment entails major side effects. Vajikarana therapy, as mentioned in Ayurveda, includes the utilization of medicinal plants in treating sexual dysfunctions, correcting defective seminal functions, promotion of spermatogenesis, and correcting other causes of infertility. Seeds of Blepharis persica (Burm. f.) O. Kuntze is mentioned in Ayurveda as one of Vajikarana drugs to treat male reproductive functions debilities. newline newlineThe proposed sets of studies were aimed to evaluate the effect of extract and fractions on testosterone biosynthesis in-vitro and in-vivo, isolation and characterization of constituents from bioactive fractions, assessing the biological potential of isolated constituents, and development of an analytical method for the estimation of an isolated bioactive compound. newline newlineThe extract and fractions were screened using TM3 cell line; showed the potential to enhance the testosterone production. In-vivo studies were performed using rat as an experimental animal. Treatment with testosterone and extract of Tribulus terrestris served as the positive control. The results revealed a statistical significant and dose dependent increase in testicular testosterone level, sperm concentration, seminal fructose content, and accessory organ weight. The treatment was found to elevate expression of mRNA corresponding to 3and#946;-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein. The spermatogenic potential was also evident from testis histo-architecture. The extract and fractions showed the ability to enhance the activity of 3and#946;-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from testicular tissues too. newline