The Effect of Kuchala (Arum korolkowii Regel, 1873) Tuber Tincture toIncrease of The Serum Testosterone in The Adult Male Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

Background: Kuchala (Arum korolkowii Regel) is a medicinal plant commonly used in folk medicine among the Kyrgyz people. The tuber tincture of kuchala is traditionally used in small doses to enhance human sexual potency. However, there is no scientific evidence supporting these medicinal effects. Therefore, we decided to study the effect of kuchala tuber tincture on the sexual potency of adult male guinea pigs. Methods: We investigated the effect of kuchala on 12 male guinea pigs, each approximately 48 months old. A 10% tuber tincture of kuchala in 70% ethanol was prepared and administered orally at a daily dose of 150 µl for 30 days. The study employed ethological, hematological, serum biochemistry, gross anatomical, histological, and statistical methods to collect and analyze the data. Results: The hematological and serum biochemistry parameters showed significant differences between the control and experimental groups. In the experimental group, the percentage of neutrophils was significantly lower (dр < 0.001) than in the control group, while lymphocyte counts were significantly higher (dр < 0.001). Additionally, RBC counts, hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were all significantly higher in the experimental group (dр < 0.001; dр < 0.001; cр < 0.01; dр < 0.001; dр < 0.001, respectively) compared to the control group. Conversely, the color indicator and mean platelet volume were higher (bр < 0.05) and significantly higher (dр < 0.001) in the control group than in the experimental group. The levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were lower in the experimental group than in the control group (both dр < 0.001). Notably, the serum testosterone concentration was much higher (dр < 0.001) in the experimental group. Microscopic examination revealed minor structural damage in the liver tissue of the experimental group, indicating a metabolic disorder. However, the testes in the experimental group showed an improvement in spermatogenesis compared to the control group, suggesting a positive effect on reproductive health. Conclusion: The 10% kuchala tuber tincture in 70% ethanol has a positive effect on improving the sexual potency of older guinea pigs by increasing testosterone production and enhancing spermatogenesis.

Keywords

• Kuchala tuber tincture
• Hematology
• Serum biochemistry
• Histology
• Testosterone
• Adult male guinea pigs

References

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