Aqueous extract of Carpolobia lutea root ameliorates paroxetine-induced anti-androgenic activity in male rats

Study objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of aqueous extract of Carpolobia lutea root on the androgenic indices of paroxetine-treated male rats.Materials and methods: Sexually active, male rats (133.10 ± 4.21 g) were completely randomized into five groups (A–E) of 5 animals each. Rats in group A received 0.5 ml of distilled water once daily for 7 days while those in groups B, C, D and E which were induced with anti-androgenicity (oral administration of 10 mg/kg of paroxetine suspension, once daily for 21 days) received 0.5 ml of distilled water and 0.5 ml corresponding to 47, 94 and 141 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively.Outcome: Administration of paroxetine significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the levels of total protein, sialic acid, glycogen, total cholesterol and testosterone as well as the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transferase in the testes of the animals. In contrast, the decreased levels of these androgenic parameters following the administration of paroxetine were reversed by the extract towards those of the normal animals that received distilled water. The 141 mg/kg body of extract completely attenuated the levels of these androgenic parameters when compared with the normal distilled water treated animals.Conclusion: The reversibility and/or enhanced synthesis of testosterone and androgen dependent parameters by the C. lutea root which confers anabolic and androgenic activities on the plant may explain the rationale for its use in the management of sexual dysfunction and fertility in animals.