Keywords
female rats
follicle-stimulating hormone
male rats
testosterone
number of offspring
sexual behavior
phytogeroprotector
How to Cite
Abstract
This paper presents the results of the study of the effects of Azerbaijan-grown saffron (Сrocus sativus L. Iridaceae) on the blood level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and a number of offspring in female rats, as well as on the blood level of testosterone and sexual behavior in male rats. The findings revealed a decrease in blood levels of FSH in 12-month-old female rats as compared to the control group (comprising animals of the same age that did not receive the saffron extract), as they approximated the registered levels of 6-month-old female rats. Saffron increased the blood level of testosterone as compared to untreated controls, which did not receive saffron. Per os administration of saffron also resulted in a notable increase in the number of pups from female rats which had received the saffron extract prior to pairing with the intact males, as well as manifested stimulation of proceptive and receptive components of sexual behavior in male rats.
References
Agha-Hosseini M, Kashani L, Aleyaseen A, Ghoreishi A, Rahmanpour H, Zarrinara AR, Akhondzadeh S. Crocus sativus L. (saffron) in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. BJOG. 2008 Mar;115(4):515-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01652.x
Agmo A. Male rat sexual behavior. Brain Res Brain Res Protoc. 1997 May;1(2):203-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1385-299x(96)00036-0.
Anisimov VN. Molecular and physiological mechanisms of aging. St. Petersburg: Nauka; 2008;1:481 (in Russian)
Forouzan Mohammadi, Hossein Nikzad, Aliakbar Taherian, Javad, Mahdi Salehi. Effects of Herbal Medicine on Male Infertility. Anatomical Sciences Journal. 2013 Nov;10(4):3-16.
Mohamadi F, Nikzad H, Taherian A, Amini MJ, Salehi M. Effects of Herbal Medicine on Male Infertility Report of Health Care, 2013;10(4):3-16.
Gashimova UF, Babaev KhF, Sadykh-zade RA, Shukurova PA. Potential anti-aging properties of saffron (Crocus sativus, L.). Vrach. 2016;6:35-38 (in Russian).
Georgiadou G, Tarantilis PA, Pitsikas N. Effects of the active constituents of Crocus Sativus L., Crocins, in an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Neurosci Lett. 2012 Oct 18;528(1):27-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2012.08.081.
Hosseini S. Therapeutic Effects of Medicinal Herbs on Reproductive System Disorders: A Review. Report of Health Care, 2018;4(3):67-76.
Kashani L, Esalatmanesh S, Eftekhari F, Salimi S, Foroughifar T, Etesam F, Safiaghdam H, Moazen-Zadeh E, Akhondzadeh S. Efficacy of Crocus sativus (saffron) in treatment of major depressive disorder associated with post-menopausal hot flashes: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018 Mar;297(3):717-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4655-2.
Minici F, Tiberi F, Tropea A, Miceli F, Orlando M, Gangale MF, Romani F, Catino S, Campo S, Lanzone A, Apa R. Paracrine regulation of endometriotic tissue. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2007 Oct;23(10):574-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590701581721.
Privalova NI. Sovremennyie tendentsii demograficheskogo razvitiya Belarusi. Nauka i innovatsiyi. 2014;2:54-60.
Srivastava R, Ahmed H, Dixit RK, Dharamveer, Saraf SA. Crocus sativus L.: A comprehensive review. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010 Jul;4(8):200-208. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.70919.
WHO monographs on medicinal plants, Widely used in the Newly Independent States. World Health Organization: 2010; 464.
World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat. June 2009
Wu D, Gore AC. Changes in androgen receptor, estrogen receptor alpha, and sexual behavior with aging and testosterone in male rats. Horm Behav. 2010 Jul;58(2):306-316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.03.001.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2022 Azerbaijan Journal of Physiology