Title: Effect of hydroalcoholic palm meristem extract on serum hormone testosterone, estradiol and gonadotropin in male rat

Introduction: Infertility is one of the problems in human society. In traditional medicine ,  medicinal plants  are used for infertility treatment. One of the plants that different parts of it are used is palm. This study investigated the effect of palm meristem extract on serum level testosterone,estradiol and gonadotropin hormones in the male rat.

Materials and methods:

 In this study, we used 96 adult male westar rats, weight range  300 -280 g and age 2 / 5 to 3 months. The rats were randomly divided into eight groups . Control group received standard food and water and experimental groups received respectively 25,50,100,150,200,250 mg doses of palm meristem orally for 28 days. Blood samples were obtained from all groups. Hormones were measured by RIA . The results were analysed by using SPSS software and one-way analysis - test .

Results:
The results showed that serum level of testosterone in the experimental groups receiving the palm meristem extract, compared to the control and shame groups decreased significantly (P <0.05), the hormone level of estradiol in the experimental groups receiving the high doses of palm meristem extract, compared to the control and shame groups decreased significantly (P <0.05). Serum level of gonadotropin hormones (LH,FSH ) in experimental groups compared to the control group is not significant.

Conclusion:
The results showed that the palm meristem extract fetoestrol, probably due to reducing cholesterol and its anti-androgen effect,  is reducing the testosterone and estradiol hormones but has no effect on gonadotropin.