Anti-androgenic activity of Xylopic acid in orchidectomerized rats

To characterize anti-androgenic properties of xylopic acid (XA) and to elucidate the possible mechanism of the antifertility activity of XA, XA was administered to orchidectomized rats following the Hershberger assay protocol. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were orchidectomized or sham operated at 42 days of age. At 11 days post-castration the rats were weighed and assign to five treatment groups as follows; Group 1 received 0.4 mg kg-1 day-1 of testosterone propionate (s.c.), group 2 received 0.4 mg kg-1 day-1 of testosterone propionate (s.c.) plus 10 mg kg-1 of XA orally, group 3 received 0.4 mg kg-1 day-1 of testosterone propionate (s.c.) plus 30 mg kg-1 of XA orally, group 4 received 0.4 mg kg-1 day-1 of testosterone propionate (s.c.) plus 100 mg kg-1 of XA orally, group 5 received only distilled water. The animals were treated daily for 10 days and the weight of the animals taken daily. On the day after the last treatment the rats were necropsied to isolate organs and tissues for study of androgenic or anti-androgenic effects. The endpoints evaluated were the growth/ body weight, and weight of the seminal vesicles plus coagulating glands with fluid, ventral prostate, levator ani plus bulbocavernosus muscle, glans penis, Cowper's glands (bulbourethral glands), and liver all without fixation. XA exhibited anti-androgenic activity by decreasing the weight of these androgen dependent organs.