Effect of furostanol glycosides from Trigonella foenum-graecum on the reproductive system of male albino rats.

Trigonella foenum (TF) has long been used in the traditional Indian systems of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. The objective was to study the anabolic and androgenic activity of the furostanol glycosides fraction of Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenu-FG) in immature castrated male Wistar rats. It was also aimed to investigate the effect of Fenu-FG on testicular histology in non-castrated immature rats. The animals (55 ± 5 g) were castrated. The rats were treated with either vehicle, testosterone (10 mg/kg s.c. bi-weekly) or Fenu-FG (10 and 35 mg/kg p.o.) once daily for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, blood was withdrawn, serum testosterone and BUN were measured. Animals were killed and reproductive organs were excised and weighed.Fenu-FG (35 mg/kg p.o.) and testosterone (10 mg/kg, s.c. biweekly) increased the weight of the levator ani muscle as well as body weight. Fenu-FG (10 or 35 mg/kg p.o.) did not change the testosterone level in castrated rats. Histopathological examination of the testis of non-castrated rats treated with Fenu-FG (10, 35 mg/kg p.o.) showed normal architecture of the testis. Fenu-FG (35 mg/kg p.o.) showed anabolic activity without androgenic activity.