Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development
  • Year: 2011
  • Volume: 2
  • Issue: 1

Effect of alcoholic extract of Withania somnifera linn roots on reproductive organs in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats

  • Author:
  • Rajashree R, Glad Mohesh M. I., Ravishankar M. V., Prema Sembulingam

* Department of Physiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE University, Belgaum.

** Department of Physiology, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College & RI, Tiruporur, Tamilnadu.

*** Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE University, Belgaum.

Abstract

“Effect of alcoholic extract of Withania somnifera linn roots on reproductive organs in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.” Withania somnifera linn(WS) is a perennial herb used in various Ayurvedic treatment procedures. Its role over the reproductive system is less studied especially in the diabetic.

1. To rule out the effect of WS alcoholic root extract over the weight of the reproductive organs of Streptozotocin induced diabetic male rats.2.To rule out the plants ability to increase the sperm count.

Twenty four adult male albino rats were grouped into four groups. Diabetes induced by injecting a single dose of Streptozotocin (50mg/kg BW) intraperitoneally. Insulin was given to one group with 5 units/Kg BW intraperitoneally for 30 days. Alcoholic root extract of WS (500mg/Kg) was given to another diabetic group orally for 30days.Blood sugar, Body weight, Weight of Testes, Cauda epididymis and Caudal Sperm count was determined on 31st day. Data collected were statistically analysed using SPSS ver.15.0 software.

Statistically significant improvement in terms of testes weight and Caudal sperm count was obtained in WS treated diabetic rats than that of insulin treated.

Withania somnifera root extracts had the potency to increase the reproductive efficiency of the diabetic rats.

Keywords

Diabetes, testes weight, cauda epididymis