Effect of Alcoholic Extract of Phoenix dactylifera Spathe on Pituitary-gonad Hormones in Adult Male Rat

The chemical composition of Phoenix dactylifera spathe including proteins, fibres, moisture, reducing sugar, none-reducing sugar, three kinds of coumarin, organic compounds of camphor family, phytosterols, and 1,2-dimethoxyl 4 methyl benzene. These chemical compounds have biological effects mainly antimitotic, estrogenic, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiobesity and antimutation. In the present paper effect of extract of Phoenix dactylifera spathe on spermatogenesis, and concentrations of LH, FSH and testosterone and histological changes in testis of rat were studied. The concentration of testosterone showed a significant decrease to different dosage of extract 0.5, 0.1 (g/kg) in comparison to the control and sham groups. In addition, histological studies showed a significant effect caused by the extract such as decreased density of spermatozoa in seminiferous tubules and disorders in spermatogenesis. So body weight and testis showed significant decrease in experimental groups relative to control and sham groups. Serum levels of LH and FSH did not show a significant difference in experimental groups relative to control and sham groups.