Effects of orchids (Orchis anatolica) on reproductive function and fertility in adult male mice

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of orchid bulbs on the reproductive system of male albino mice. Orchid bulb extract was fed to 20 male albino mice (5 g/mouse/day) for 35 days and compared with a similar number of mice as controls. Total testicular germ cell population, histometrical parameters, serum blood biochemistry and hormonal assay were determined. The ingestion of orchid bulb by mice induced a significant increase in the following parameters: (i) testes and seminal vesicle weights; (ii) number of different testicular germ cell population including interstitial Leydig cells and fibroblasts; and (iii) testicular cell linage dynamics obtained from testes and cauda epidydimides. An important finding was that the ingestion of the orchid diet by male mice increased their fertility. This was indicated by an elevation in the number of impregnated females when allowed to mate with treated mice, an increase in the impregnation sites, and an increase in the number of viable fetuses and the offspring's male/female ratio. A slight significant increase in the testosterone and follicular stimulating hormone titers in the treated mice were found in their blood serum. In contrast, a decrease in the number of degenerating cells was observed. Orchid bulb treatment might play an important role in improving male reproductive potential and fertility. (Reprod Med Biol 2006;: 269-276).

Comparative effects of Orchis anatolica vs. the red Korean Panax ginseng treatments on testicular structure and function of adult male mice

“…An indirect effect of FSH as postulated was its intestinal cell-specific target leading to an increase in cell number, a mechanism that could be mediated through cell surface androgenic receptors (AR) [30,39,40]. This increase in FSH in the serum as it was recorded after Orchis anatolica plant administration in mice could clearly indicates that this plant may play an important role in maintaining spermatogenesis [7,36,41]. Lack of serum FSH production was observed when red Korean Panax ginseng given to mice and as a sequence reproductive organ weights as well as spermatogenesis were not affected.…”

“…Orchis anatolica known as Anatolian Orchis (Anatolisches Knabenkraut) is a delicatelooking plant that blooms at spring time and grows mostly in light-shaded humid pine woods in different parts of Jordan and other countries [12][13][14]. The crude form and the ethanol extracts of this plant root have been previously used in our laboratories and we demonstrated that it possesses positive beneficial nontoxic effects on rodent reproductive and other systems when used in various doses [9,15] and [6,7,10]. It has also been demonstrated that this plant's roots possess additional effects on male mice sexual behaviors leading to induce significance parameters in female rodent impregnation [6,15].…”

“…Orchis anatolica plant is rich in alkaloids, nitrogenous organic heterocyclic molecules that possess numerous beneficial pharmacological effects on humans and animals [4,5]. Few orchid species have been tested for their effect on reproductive system and fertility with remarkable benefits in both male and female rodents [6][7][8][9][10][11]. Orchis anatolica known as Anatolian Orchis (Anatolisches Knabenkraut) is a delicatelooking plant that blooms at spring time and grows mostly in light-shaded humid pine woods in different parts of Jordan and other countries [12][13][14].…”

The Effect of Orchis anatolica Leaves on Reproductive System—An in Vivo Study

“…After one week of acclimatization (WHO, 1983), the mice were randomly divided into two groups (control and treated). As in the previous study, the treated group was gavaged with 0.1 gm/day/mouse of the crude ethanolic extract of Orchis anatolica leaves [22], while the second group (control) received distilled water. The dose was given orally using a gavage needle for 35 consecutive days (WHO, 1983).…”

“…Orchis anatolica grows mostly in countries such as Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran and Jordan. Recent studies showed that the ingestion of Orchis anatolica roots enhanced adult male mice fertility, increased the number of pregnant females, and increased the male:female offspring ratio [22], [23]. In this study we aimed to investigate if Orchis anatolica leaves ethanolic extract has any fertility-enhancing effects similar to those of the root.…”