ANTIANDROGENIC EFFECT OF STRIGA-OROBANCHIOIDES

The ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Striga orobanchioides give n for 7 days to immature male rats at a dose level of 200 mg/kg body w eight caused a significant decrease in the weight of the testes, epidi dymis, seminal vesicles and the ventral prostate. It also produced deg enerative changes of Leydig cells, their nucleus, the seminiferous tub ules and a significant decrease in the number of spermatocytes and spe rmatids. The seminiferous tubules of the treated rats are shrunken and compactly arranged. The antiandrogenic or antispermatogenic effect of the extract is discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.