The Effect of leaf Ocimum basilicum Hydroalcoholic extract On sex hormones (estradiol, progesterone, prolactin) in female rats

Backgrond:

 Fertility refers to a couple›s ability to have children. Sex hormones are secreted by the gonads and are one of the important factors involved in the reproductive process. Basil (Ocimum basilicom L.) is an annual aromatic plant of the mint family, has antibacterial, anticonvulsant, hypoglycemic, hypoallergenic, improved immune response, antioxidant and anti-depressant properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of  hydroalcoholic extract of basil leaves on sex hormones (estradiol, progesterone, prolactin) in rats, which was performed at Mashhad Azad University in 2016.

This experimental study was performed on 24 female Wistar rats weighing approximately 230-200 g were randomly divided into four groups and were treated with extract of basil (100,250, and 500 mg / kg, respectively).Extract was fed by using gavage method to the rats in 7 consecutive days and then every female rats were placed inside the separated cages for mating. Mated rats were considered as positive samples by observing vaginal plaque To evaluate the changes in sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone and prolactin), blood samples were obtained from orbital sinus in three stages and were sent to the laboratory. Quantitative data were analyzed by using ANOVA, T-Test,Post hos and minitab softwares at significance  level of P <0.05. 

The hydroalcoholic extract of green basil leaves increased the hormone estradiol and progesterone in the prepregnancy stage and also the prolactin hormone in the two stages before pregnancy and pregnancy (p100 = 0.005), (p250 = 0) and (p500 = 0.003). Estradiol decreased in the experimental groups of 250 and 100 mg / kg (p250 = 0.041) (p100 = 0.033) and also the level of progesterone at a dose of 250 mg / kg in pregnancy (p250 = 0.0).

The use of basil hydroalcoholic extract seems to have a dose-dependent effect on sex hormone levels.