Effect of Some Plant Extracts on Hyperprolactinemia in Experimental Animals

Abstract

Hyperprolactinaemia is the occurrence of an endocrine disorder that leads to an increase in the level of the hormone prolactin (PRL) in the blood above normal levels in cases other than the natural increase in pregnancy and lactation. It may be present as the menstrual disturbances, galactorrhea, sexual dysfunction, gynecomastia, infertility, decreased bone mineral density, and breast cancer. This increase results from several causes that may be pathological such as pituitary tumors, psychological such as stress, or as a result of taking a specific drug such as schizophrenia, anti-vomiting drugs, nerve analgesics, first-generation antipsychotics, hypnotics, and sedatives. Hyperprolactinaemia by metoclopramide was induced in male and female rats to assess the therapeutic effects of alcoholic extracts of sage leaves, marjoram leaves and celery seeds. Through the biochemical analysis of blood hormones, the results showed that treating rats with metoclopramide drug (150 mg / kg / day) for a week had an effect on the positive control group in the occurrence of hyperprolactinaemia compared to the negative control group at the beginning of the experiment. The results indicated that there was a significant effect (P<0.05) for the three plant extracts namely marjoram leaves, sage leaves and celery seeds ( 250 mg / kg / day) for 30 days, to reduce the prolactin hormone in the blood and also to maintain the level of the rest of the sex hormones (progesterone (PRG), estrogen (E2), testosterone (TST), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH)) without causing any disturbance in males and females in comparison to the group of drug used in the experiment. To treat this condition bromocriptine (Dopamine receptors agonist) is used. The rats returned to normal case after the appearance of the rats' recovery after taking the extracts during the trial period. This effect may be due to estrogen receptors and /or dopamine receptor.