P-19: Effect of Hydro Alcoholic Leaf Extract ofMyrtus Communis on Pituitary- Gonad HormonalAxis in Adult Male Rat

Background: Myrtus communis has been identified as a holy plant for ages and a great verity of medicinal properties have been described for it in literature. Today, there is a number of Myrtus drugs in Iran market including: Myrtoplex cream, Myrtex Solution, Aftoplex, Dineh Inhaler Powder, Rectol cream and so on. These properties may due to the presence of different chemical compounds such as Tanin, Flavinoid, Saponin, Ascorbic acid , 1,8-Cineole, Myricetin and Delta-cadinene.Since Myrtus communis is used to treat sexual impotent in some areas, present study was performed to evaluate the effect of hydro alcoholic Myrtus communis leaf extract on pituitary – gonad axis in adult male rat. Materials and Methods: Forty adult male rats wistar strain were selected and randomly divided into five groups; control(n=8) which received no treatment , sham which received distilled water as a solvent(n=8), and three experimental groups (1,2and3)(n=8 for each of group ) which received 0.75, 1.5and 3 mg/kg Myrtus communis leaf extract respectively. The extract received by orally and the test period was 21 days. After the latest prescription of extract, the animal anaesthetize and give blood from their haert. Then considered the concentration of FSH, LH and testosterone by radio immunoassay(RIA) method. The obtained results analyzed based on SPSS , Excel, analysis one –way variance and post hoc statistical programs , and significant (p< 0.05) take in consideration. Results: The results of hormonal examination indicated the amount of 1.5 and 3 mg/kg body weights of myrtus communis leaf extract showed a significant increase in the level of testosterone (p< 0.05) but concentration of LH, FSH hormones showed no significant difference. Conclusion: The Myrtus communis leaf extract causes a increasing testosterone hormone ,that probably related with the compounds as Flavinoid, Ascorbic acid and Myricetin (by inhibition of aromatase activity) , Linoleicacid , Oleic acid and Palmitic acid (by inhibition 5alpha reductase activity) and 1,8-Cineole, Delta-cadinene (the cytochrome-P450 Inducer).