ABSTRACT
The study aimed to evaluate the effect Echinacea extract (E) on the testicular antioxidants function in normal rats or that subjected to anti-androgenic compound, cyproterone acetate (CA). Rats were divided into 5 groups treated daily via an oral tube for two intervals 2 and 4 weeks, 1st control, 2nd E (63mg/kg), 3rd CA (25mg/kg), 4th E+CA and 5th E as prophylactic one week before E+CA treatment. So CA used as a positive control compound with antiandrogenic activity with proposed testicular oxidant. The body, testes, epididymis and vas deferens weights were recorded. Sperm count, nitric oxide (NO), calcium ion (Ca2+) and malondialdhyde (MDA) contents in addition to superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were determined in testicular tissues. CA exhibited direct negative effect on reproductive organs weight and significant reducing effect on sperm count and Ca2+ contents. SOD and GST activities significantly decreased in addition to significant increase in NO, MDA contents reflecting the oxidative status of testis in CA treated rats.
The prophylactic effect of E treatment, in time related manner, showed significant improvement in the antioxidant status of the testicular tissue which is more pronounced as compared to E+CA treatment.
Key wards: Echinacea, cyproterone acetate, reproductive system, antioxidants
INTRODUCTION
The antioxidant system plays an effective role in protecting testes and other biological tissues below a critical threshold of reactive oxygen species (ROS) thus preventing testicular dysfunction (Oschsendorf, 1999). ROS mediated oxidative stress is one of crucial reasons of infertility and decreased sperm viability and increased level of free radicals may cause degener...
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...d local levels such as in the testis, when nuclear receptors are (over) saturated. Androgens can also induce rapid calcium fluxes in a variety of cell types, including human prostatic cancer cells and rat sertoli cells (Steinsapir et al., 1991; Gorczynska and Handelsman, 1995; Gorczyńska-Fjälling, 2004). This suggestion explains the effect of CA treatment on decreasing the testicular Ca ion content.
The study suggests that Echinacea supplementation especially a week before cyproterone acetate shows improvement in the oxidative stress induced by cyproterone acetate treatment. That may be due to the Echinacea antioxidant activity. The anti-androgenic effect of E may in addition to the anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing activity add valuable for using it as a co-treatment for male contraceptives or in treatment of prostate cancer which needs more investigations.
As you know autoimmune diseases are your immune auto-generate antibodies against cells of your body. In here, I don’t tell physiology of autoimmune diseases but I will tell one of most autoimmune diseases that is immune fertility disease. Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have found a new human protein, radical radial spoke protein 44 (RSP44) in July, 2007. RSP44 is antigen can be found in all men, residing in the sperm tail at the center of a structure known as the axoneme. Antigens can only stimulate antibody production when they come in contact with components of the blood. Under normal conditions, blood and sperm do not mix. Direct contact between the two is prevented by a cellular structure in the testes called
There has been conflicting research and advice about the safety of hormones with the increase in the aging female population within the last twenty years (National Institute on Aging). Hormone therapy has demonstrated to be the most effective FDA approved medication in the relief of menopausal symptoms, but these benefits must be weighed against serious adverse effects that hormones can cause. Although many women differ in their response to hormone products, MHT has been universally linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, blood clots, and strokes. Concerns about the findings discovered in the clinical and observation trials performed on MHT, have left some doctors and women hesitant in utilizing MHT to combat menopausal symptoms.
Most people appreciate their hair as the most valuable assets especially for women. However, there are so many problems related to this precious thing nowadays such as hair loss (alopecia), dandruffs and premature greying and balding. The researcher’s team headed by Professor Markus Nothen from University of Bonn and Dr. Roland Kruse from Dusseldorf University in 2005 discovered that the main cause of alocepia is hereditary factors which either because of high androgen receptor formed or variant receptor which develops as a result of genetic change. In addition according to Hoffman (2002), “The most common form of alopecia in men is believed to be due excessive activity of androgens on the scalp where the hairs become miniaturized and pigment production is stopped.” Hamilton (1951); Hoffman (2002); Price (2003); Severi et al., (2003) claimed that conversion towards more potent testosterone is due to elevation level of 5-alpha reductase lead to common baldness. For the genetically derived phenomenon, it supposed to be totally about the hereditary cause and the other exogenous factors will be excluded. However, there are also views from proponents saying that some natural food involves in solving these hair—related problems for example emblica officinalis or amla.
Prostate cancer has been the number one diagnosed cancer today. According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in every ten American men will develop prostate cancer during his lifespan. This cancer has been very common in the last few years. American Cancer Society reported over 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer. Huge number of population suffered severely. The prostate is significant for reproduction. It helps the substances that are involved in fertilization and transporting of sperm as well as survival. Prostate tumor is developed in the prostate gland, which is found in the men’s reproductive system. Prostate is the size of a walnut, which is located inferiorly in the penis and anterior to the rectum. It contains the connective tissue, which includes the glandular and fibrous tissues. This tumor starts to develop during their adolescent year due to the control of the male reproductive hormones. When the tumor starts to develop, it begins at the urethra, which is a tube that releases the urine from the bladder. The tumor is a slow development yet it is contagious to the other parts of the body, such as it does affect the pelvic bones, lungs, liver, and the lower vertebrae (Zenka, 2009).
Chemical pollution into the environment can cause both genotypic and phenotypic changes in many organisms, including humans. More specifically, environmental pollutants like BPA can act as xenoestrogens (estrogen imitators), ultimately affecting hormonal activity and production in an organism. This alteration in activity and production can be termed as endocrine disruption. The endocrine system regulates a variety of processes responsible for growth and development, including gonadal formation and function, digestion, metabolism, sex differentiation, and embryonic development (reviewed by Flint et al., 2012). Chemicals that interfere with the function or structure of the endocrine system can be defined as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2007).
Another study proposed that CR slowed aging process by increasing resistance to hyperoxidation. As aging progressed in yeast and other animals, the presence of free radicals increased in the cells. Usually, the levels of the...
Testicular cancer is only present in males because only males have testicles. About 8,820 cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed every year. About 380 men die from testicular cancer each year. This is actually a very high survival rate. Also, the risk of a man dying from testicular cancer is about 1 in 5,000 because it is highly treatable and sometimes can be curable. It seems that the group most affected by testicular cancer is middle aged men, the average age to be diagnosed is 33. Only 6% of testicular cancer cases occur in children and teens, and about 7% of testicular cancer cases are men above 55 years old. All in all, testicular cancer is a type of cancer only in males and starts off in the testicles. It is not that common and the survival rate is very high because of the technology and doctors of today.
Although steroids have many negative effects, they have many needed medical purposes. Androgens have many legitimate medical uses, such as the use for treatment of hypogonadal men to compensate for the lack of endogenous production. Anabolic steroids are also helpful for the treatment of certain adolescent diseases, some types of anemias, and for a relatively rare form of edema. Other clinical uses focus on the tissue building and anti-catabolic effects, such as in the treatment of burn victims, AIDS, or HIV positive patients, or patients malnourished from disease or old age (Bellino 1).
...tantly making efforts to discover new drugs and design better protocols for this cancer. Synthetic anticancer drugs kill the cancer cells but they are also harmful to the normal cells. Since, increase in the use of these drugs in cancer therapy leads to many side effects and undesirable hazards, there is a worldwide trend to go back to natural resources, i.e., traditional plant preparations which are not only therapeutically effective but are actually acceptable and economically within the reach of even the neediest people. The present study was undertaken to understand the effectiveness of the plants against hepatocarcinogenesis. Any practical solution in combating this dreadful disease is bound to be of paramount importance. Generally speaking, integrated approach to combine western and herbal medicines to treat cancer has proved to be relatively satisfactory.
Sharpe, Richard M. and Niels Skakkebaek. 1993. Are oestrogens involved in falling sperm counts and disorders of the male reproductive tract? Lancet
Zahn, K.A., Raymond, L. L., Purssell, R.A. (1997). Cardiovascular Toxicity after ingestion of Herbal Ecstacy. Journal of Emergency Medicine, 17(2), 289-291.
Vitamin E in all its forms, functions predominantly as an antioxidant by protecting cells from free radicals in the body. Vitamin E works as an antioxidant by donating a hydrogen atom from a hydroxyl group to a free radical within the body. Vitamin E also plays a role in immune system function and protects cell membranes and regulation of gene expression. Vitamin E has been studied to uncover other medical usages, including prevention or treatment of many health conditions [1].
It also helps to normalize menstrual cycle and it increases the rate of spontaneous ovulation and may improve hirsutism. (7) (5) (4)
The male reproductive system is a set of organs that works together to produce sperm which will later in life fertilize females eggs. The testes are the most important part of the system because it produces sperm cells. It is similar and looks similar to ovaries of a female’s reproductive system because it also holds what they need to reproduce. Its job is to produce the sperm cells needed to reproduce. Due to hormonal imbalances the production of sperm cells may not even be possible in some males. Testosterone is the male the hormone that gives men there manly characteristics. It is made up of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen with a white color. In the male body it helps develop sex organs, a deeper voice, and facial hair (Khalid, 2013). Cancer or a genetic disorder in males is the most common thing that cause the reductions of testosterone production in the body. Behind the testes is the epididymis which lets sperm go through the vas deferens from the testes (Dictionary, 2014). It looks like leach the way it is position right on the testes but it is thinner. When sperm is produces the ...
Green tea is made from the plant Camellia Sinensis’s leaves without fermentation (Suzuki, Miyoshi & Isemura, 2012) and is regarded as a popular and healthy drink in Asian countries because of its health-promoting potentials such as protecting against cancer and cardiovascular disease (Harvard Health Publications, 2012; Iwasaki et al., 2014). Lots of the positive effects are due to the antioxidative activity of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is a major component of green tea (Suzuki et al., 2012). And it draws researchers’ interests and attentions to further investigate. According to Suzuki et al., one example of the health advantages is that catechins in green tea bring an anti-obesity effect by stimulating lipid metabolism in liver (2012).