Effects of Citrus aurantium extract on antioxidant activity and testosterone level in male mice

Citrus aurantium extract (C. aurantium) is a native and high intake plant of Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of C. aurantium on antioxidant activity and testosterone level of male healthy mice. In this experimental study, Twenty- eight healthy adult male Balb/C mice were divided into four groups; each group include seven mice. Two milliliter distilled water, C. aurantium extract with low concentration (0.01 mg/kg), C. aurantium extract with medium concentration (0.02 mg/kg), and C.aurantium extract with high concentration (0.04 mg/kg) were given daily for seven weeks by gavage to mice in the first, second, third, and fourth groups, respectively. Level of testosterone, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities were investigated. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the degree of significance was set at p<0.05. A significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) level (p<0.01) and marked increases in glutathione (GSH) (p<0.01), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p<0.05) and catalase (CAT) (p<0.01) activities were observed in mice treated with different doses of C. aurantium. Testosterone level significantly decreased compared to the control group (p<0.01 and p<0.05). It seems there is a negative relation between C. aurantium consumption and testosterone level.