Changes in the concentrations of testosterone, luteinising hormone and progesterone associated with administration of embelin

Abstract

The mode of action of embelin, a naturally occurring plant benzoquinone with male fertility regulating potential, was investigated. Sexually mature white New Zealand male rabbits were injected intra-muscularly with embelin (30 mg/kg body wt) on alternate days for 14 days (7 injections). Blood was collected on alternate days over 27-day period from the beginning of embelin administration. Testosterone and progesterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and luteinising hormone (LH) by mouse interstitial cell testosterone bioassay. There was a marked reduction of testosterone concentrations within two days of embelin administration and up to 90% reduction by the 6th day. LH showed a corresponding rise with the falling testosterone levels. Similarly, there was rapid increase in progesterone levels with the administration of embelin. Both the concentrations of progesterone and LH …