The effect of hydroalkoholic extract urtica dioica on concentrations of sex hormones in adult male rats

Nowadays using herbal products as an alternative or supplement to contraceptive synthetic drugs is common. There are reports of anti-estrogenic effects of nettle resulting in sterility in mammals. We asked if hydro-alcoholic extract of the nettle root (Urtica diocia) could alter serum concentrations of hormones; gandotropins and testosterone, in adult male rats. Materials and Methods: 80 adult male rats were randomly divided into 8 groups of 10. Three groups received 300, 600 and 1000 mg/ kg body weight of hydro-alcoholic extract of nettle root intraperitoneally for 3 days to lethal dose.In remaing groups, one as control, another as sham, and three others received 75, 150, 300 mg/kg body weight for 20 days. The rats were then sacrificed and FSH and LH serum concentrations were determined by ELISA. Results: The nettle extract increased LH significantly (P<0.05), whereas the effect on FSH was variable and nonsignificant. The extract tended to increase testosterone serum concentration but did not reach significant level. Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic extract of nettle root has a positive effect on LH hormone at the dose of 300 mg/kg body weight.