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Artichoke may protect testes against anabolic steroids
If during a steroid cycle the release of testosterone plummets and the testes atrophy, supplementation with Cynara scolymus [Latin for artichoke] may limit the damage. This is suggested by an Egyptian animal study, in which researchers experimented with rats, a particularly low dose of nandrolone and a particularly high dose of artichoke.
Study
Researchers at Beni-Suef University published an animal study in Environmental Science and Pollution Research in which they injected nandrolone decanoate every week for 6 weeks. If the rats had been adult humans, they would have used approximately 200-250 milligrams a week.
There has been a time when some pharmacological athletes used anabolics in such doses. But that was many years ago.
In addition to nandrolone, another group of rats also received an extract of Cynara scolymus. If these rats had been humans, they would have received 11 grams of extract daily. That would amount to 2 tablespoons.
After 6 weeks, the researchers determined the effect of nandrolone on testes and testosterone production.
Results
Nandrolone reduced the size of the testes and the testosterone concentration. Co-supplementation with artichoke reduced the effect of nandrolone on these two parameters, but did not cancel it.
The Egyptians suspect that artichoke protects the testes by increasing the production of endogenous antioxidants. They discovered that nandrolone reduces total antioxidant activity and the concentration of catalase and glutathione, and that artichoke co-supplementation mitigates or eliminates these effects.
They also discovered that nandrolone increases the concentration of malondialdehyde - a marker of the activity of free radicals - and that co-supplementation reduces this increase.
The Egyptians also looked at the effect on sperm. Nandrolone reduced the quality of the sperm, but co-supplementation with artichoke also partially eliminated this effect.
Source:
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019;10.1007/s11356-019-07302-4.
Published : December 2019
Cynara scolymus leaves extract alleviates nandrolone decanoate-induced alterations in testicular function and sperm quality in albino rats
Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2019)Cite this article
Abstract
Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is a commonly used anabolic-androgenic steroid. These drugs are illegally self-administered by athletes to enhance their sports performance. However, their abuse could influence the testicular function and fertility. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of Cynara scolymus leaf extract (CLE) on ND-induced testicular dysfunction in rats. Five groups of adult male rats (10 rats each) were used. Group I rats received only saline and served as controls. Group II rats were injected with a vehicle once weekly, while group III rats received intramuscular injections of ND (20 mg/kg/week for 60 days). Group IV rats orally received 1 g/kg/day of CLE and group V rats received ND and CLE at the aforementioned doses. The results revealed that ND has a negative impact on the testicular function as evidenced by the significant increases (p???0.05) in testicular malondialdehyde concentration and serum non-prostatic acid phosphatase activity, as well as the significant decreases in serum testosterone levels, testicular weight, glutathione concentration, catalase enzyme activity, and total antioxidant capacity. These results were accompanied by considerable alterations of sperm characters and histopathological studies of the testicular tissue. However, co-treatment with CLE extract significantly alleviated (p???0.05) almost all ND-induced pathological alterations. In conclusion, co-treatment of ND-intoxicated rats with CLE ameliorated the toxic effects of ND on the testicular structure and function, probably due to its antioxidant activity.
If during a steroid cycle the release of testosterone plummets and the testes atrophy, supplementation with Cynara scolymus [Latin for artichoke] may limit the damage. This is suggested by an Egyptian animal study, in which researchers experimented with rats, a particularly low dose of nandrolone and a particularly high dose of artichoke.
Study
Researchers at Beni-Suef University published an animal study in Environmental Science and Pollution Research in which they injected nandrolone decanoate every week for 6 weeks. If the rats had been adult humans, they would have used approximately 200-250 milligrams a week.
There has been a time when some pharmacological athletes used anabolics in such doses. But that was many years ago.
In addition to nandrolone, another group of rats also received an extract of Cynara scolymus. If these rats had been humans, they would have received 11 grams of extract daily. That would amount to 2 tablespoons.
After 6 weeks, the researchers determined the effect of nandrolone on testes and testosterone production.
Results
Nandrolone reduced the size of the testes and the testosterone concentration. Co-supplementation with artichoke reduced the effect of nandrolone on these two parameters, but did not cancel it.
The Egyptians suspect that artichoke protects the testes by increasing the production of endogenous antioxidants. They discovered that nandrolone reduces total antioxidant activity and the concentration of catalase and glutathione, and that artichoke co-supplementation mitigates or eliminates these effects.
They also discovered that nandrolone increases the concentration of malondialdehyde - a marker of the activity of free radicals - and that co-supplementation reduces this increase.
The Egyptians also looked at the effect on sperm. Nandrolone reduced the quality of the sperm, but co-supplementation with artichoke also partially eliminated this effect.
Source:
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019;10.1007/s11356-019-07302-4.
Published : December 2019
Cynara scolymus leaves extract alleviates nandrolone decanoate-induced alterations in testicular function and sperm quality in albino rats
Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2019)Cite this article
Abstract
Nandrolone decanoate (ND) is a commonly used anabolic-androgenic steroid. These drugs are illegally self-administered by athletes to enhance their sports performance. However, their abuse could influence the testicular function and fertility. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of Cynara scolymus leaf extract (CLE) on ND-induced testicular dysfunction in rats. Five groups of adult male rats (10 rats each) were used. Group I rats received only saline and served as controls. Group II rats were injected with a vehicle once weekly, while group III rats received intramuscular injections of ND (20 mg/kg/week for 60 days). Group IV rats orally received 1 g/kg/day of CLE and group V rats received ND and CLE at the aforementioned doses. The results revealed that ND has a negative impact on the testicular function as evidenced by the significant increases (p???0.05) in testicular malondialdehyde concentration and serum non-prostatic acid phosphatase activity, as well as the significant decreases in serum testosterone levels, testicular weight, glutathione concentration, catalase enzyme activity, and total antioxidant capacity. These results were accompanied by considerable alterations of sperm characters and histopathological studies of the testicular tissue. However, co-treatment with CLE extract significantly alleviated (p???0.05) almost all ND-induced pathological alterations. In conclusion, co-treatment of ND-intoxicated rats with CLE ameliorated the toxic effects of ND on the testicular structure and function, probably due to its antioxidant activity.
