The Effect of asafetida Gum Extract on Blood Parameters and Histopathology of Testes in Male Wistar Rat

Ferula (Ferula assafetida) is a perennial plant which belongs to Umbelliferea family is grow in a wide range of arid and semi-arid regions in Iran. Ferulla assafetida contains compounds including coumarins and sesquiterpens that has been traditionally used to treat diseases such as nervous disorders, asthma, gastrointestinal disease and epilepsy.. Effects of asafetida gum extract on blood parameters and histopathology of testes in male Wistar rat were studied using 32 rats with the initial body weight of 252 ± 4.3 g which randomly divided into 4 groups of 8 rats each the animals were injected with normal saline (control), and 75, 150 and 300 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) body weight of asafetida gum extract respectively. The result showed that, 300mg/kg asafetida gum extract caused adverse effects on blood cholesterol, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) concentration, while 75 mg/kg had positive effects on above-mentioned parameters. Serum testosterone significantly decreased by increasing the level of asafetida gum extract and 300 mg/kg group had the lowest serum testosterone concentration. The numbers of Leydig cell layers were suppressed in asafetida-treated animals in comparison with the control. In conclusion, therapeutic effects of asafetida gum extract are dose-dependent and the level 300 mg/kg caused adverse impacts on metabolites and reproductive performance in male Wistar rats. The refers more in vivo studies with bigger experiment population are required