Extracts of the Ficus asperifolia found to ameliorate androgen deficiency

Researchers have found a way to improve androgen deficiency. The study, published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, provided scientific evidence on the efficiency of the extracts of Ficus asperifolia in improving androgen deficiency.

• A team of researchers at the University of Dschang and the University of Douala in Cameroon looked at the androgenic properties of aqueous and methanolic extracts of F. asperifolia on normal and castrated immature rats.
• For the study, the research team gave the normal rats with either aqueous or methanolic extract of F. asperifolia at a dose of 100 or 500 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg), 10 milliliters per kilogram (mL/kg) of water, Tween 80, or 0.5 mg/kg body weight of testosterone propionate.
• On the other hand, castrated rats were treated with the plant extracts at a dose of 100 or 500 mg/kg body weight alone or in combination with testosterone propionate or bicalutamide.
• The treatments were done once a day for four weeks.
• After each treatment, body weight and relative sexual organ weights to determine the androgenic potential of F. asperifolia.
• In addition, they recorded levels of proteins and cholesterol in the plasma, testes, and epididymis.
• The extracts of F. asperifolia dramatically increased the relative weights of the testes and all sexual-dependent organs, while it substantially reduced total testicular cholesterol level.
• F. asperifolia extracts increased reproductive organ weights, epididymal protein, and prostatic acid phosphatase levels of the castrated mice.
• The combination of testosterone and plant extracts substantially increased the weight of accessory sexual organs and epididymal protein contents.

Overall, F. asperifolia extracts have been proven to possess androgenic properties.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

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Journal Reference:

Watcho P, Watio HBM, Wankeu-Nya, Ngadjui E, Defo PD, Nkeng-Efouet PA, Nguelefack TB, Kamanyi A. ANDROGENIC EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS AND METHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF FICUS ASPERIFOLIA IN MALE WISTAR RATS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017; 17(42). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1547-5