Ameliorative Effect of Taraxacum officinale Leaves on Hormonal Status of Hyperglycemic Rats

Abstract

Acute or chronic side effects of hyperglycemia may affect all systems and organs, such as sexual glands.
Approximately 90 percent of diabetic patients suffer from sexual dysfunction, including libido and fertility.
This study is designed to investigate the effect of diabetes on the sex hormones levels ad to evaluate the
ameliorative effect of dandelion leaves powder (DLP) on diabetes-induced changes of gonadal hormones
and glucose serum levels in male rats. Experimental diabetes mellitus was induced by subcutaneous injection
with 65mg streptozotocin STZ/kg body weight. DLP was given in pelleted food at ratio of 5% for 28 days.
DLP was effective in lowering Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) serum level in dandelion-treated rats
compared to controls in diabetic group. DLP was also able to reverse the progesterone lowering effect of
diabetes. In all of the classes, the estrogen level did not show any noticeable difference. It is suggested that
DLP can have a regulatory effect in male rats on diabetes-induced changes in gonadal hormone levels,
especially progesterone. Our research has shown that long-term administration of DLP in the diabetes
experimental model could be used as a good candidate for reproductive hormone deficiency therapy