THE EFFECTS OF HYDRO ALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OF MATRICARIA CHAMOMILLA FLOWER ON TESTOSTERONE AND GONADOTROPINS HORMONE IN ADULT MALE RAT

Introduction: Chamomilla is a valuable plant that has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to treat different diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chamomilla flower extract on pituitary-gonadal axis in adult male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 45 adult male Wistar rats with a mean weight of 250-300 g were divided into five groups: control group, sham group and experimental groups 1, 2 and 3. The experimental groups, respectively received 10, 20 and 40 milligram per kilogram body weight of intraperitoneal injection of chamomile flower extract for 14 consecutive days. At the end of the treatment course, the rats were anesthetized with ether and their ventricular blood samples were collected for measuring serum concentration of gonadotropins and testosterone by radioimmunoassay. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Results : The serum concentration of testosterone showed a significant decrease in experimental groups as compared with the sham group (p≤0.05). Nonetheless, the serum concentration of gonadotropins no showed a significant difference in experimental groups as compared with that of the control group. Conclusion: Given the results of this study, intraperitoneal injection of chamomile flower extract reduces testosterone secretion in male rats.