Abstract
Antisteroidogenic Effect Of The Seed Extract Of Nelumbo Nucifera In The Testis And The Ovary Of The Rat
The petroleum ether extract of the seeds of Nelumbo nucifera and its fractions were administered orally to sexually immature female rats and mature male rats on alternate day for 15 days. The treatment caused a remarkable delay in sexual maturation in prepubertal female rats as evidenced from age of vaginal opening and first estrus (cornified smear) and a significant reduction in the sperm count and motility in mature male rats. In both the cases treatment resulted in accumulation of cholesterol and ascorbic acid and reduction in D5-3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the ovary and testis of female and male rat respectively. These results indicate suppression of steroidogenesis in both ovary and testis.
