The effects of milled Tribulus terrestris, Avena sativa, and white ginseng powder on total cholesterol, free testosterone levels and testicular tissue in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet

Abstract

This study examines the effects of milled Tribulus terrestris (TT), Avena sativa (AS), white ginseng (WG) and triple-combination (TC) powders on sexual dysfunction parameters - such as serum total cholesterol, free testosterone levels and histopathological changes in testicular tissue - in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. The study's animal matenal consisted of 42 male Wistar albino rats weighing 200-210 g divided into six groups. Group I was fed normal pellet feed, while the remaining groups were fed pellet feed containing 2% cholesterol. Group III, IV, V, and VI also received 0.6 g/kg/day of TT, 0.3 g/kg/day of AS, 0.2 g/kg/day of WG and 0.55 g/kg/day of TC (7.5% TT, 3.75% AS, 2.5% WG), respectively. After 90 days, the rats were sacrificed and blood and testicular tissue samples obtained. Serum total cholesterol and free testosterone levels were measured, and the Johnsen testicular biopsy score (JTBS) was calculated by a histopathological examination of testicular tissue samples. The high-cholesterol diet in Group II significantly caused increase in total cholesterol level and decrease in JTBS as compared to Group I. Although the groups' free testosterone levels were not statistically significant, WG and TC significantly prevented total cholesterol increase. TC significantly increased the JTBS compared to TT, AS and WG alone. Thus, it was concluded that TC might be particularly efficient for improving male sexual dysfunction.