Effects of Tribulus tertesris extract on body weight, testis histopathology and size in rats

Tribulus terrestris (TT) is a flowering plant, traditionally being used as an aphrodisiac agent. Studies shown that TT extract increases testosterone levels and produces aphrodisiac effects. Nowadays is a major ingredient of most aphrodisiac drugs but there is no document about its testicular pathology in long term use. The purpose of our study was to identify the effects in rats of oral TT on body weight, testicular histopathology and weight at normal and double doses to presume its probable negative effects in human while using exaggerated for long period of time. 30 male mature SD rats were used, kept in individual cages, fed with standard ration and water ad libitum, divided into 3 groups (G); c, a and b received placebo and oral doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg of TT, SID for 8weeks .Rats were weighted at day 1, and At the end of the study, all were weighted, anaesthetized and the left testis excised. Testicular weigh with and without epididymis was recorded then histopathologic slides prepared with H&E and Masson trichrome, and focused on seminiferous tube diameter, epithelial layer thickness, interstitial space length, testicular capsule thickness. All stages of the experiment were conducted as blind. Data statistically analyzed by variance analysis (ANOVA) and Tukey test, at a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). Results showed a significant body weight gain in G-a and body weight loss in G-b. Testis weighting showed a significant increase in G-a, but there was no significant difference between G-c and b. Microscopic examination of G-b showed, shrunken seminiferous tubes and spermatogoni cells were lower in population. Primary spermatocyte and spermatozoids, in comparison with groups’ c and b, in lower concentration, destruction of seminiferous tubes group b. Sub cortical vessels were thickened and distributed. All parameters in other two groups were normal. Results indicate that exaggerated use of TTE over 8 weeks may result in destructive effects on male genital system in rats which may in turn induce male fertility problems. The use of TTE with caution is suggested. Further research to evaluate effects on fertility, sperm count, reproductive status is indicated.