Effects of Colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis) Pulp on Serum Levels of Testosterone and Changes in Reproductive Organs in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Introduction: investigating the effects of colocynth pulp on levels of testosterone and changes in the reproductive system organs in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. methods: in this study, 32 wistar rats were divided into four groups of normal (n), normal+colocynth pulp (n+c), diabetic control (d), and diabetic+colocynth pulp (d+c). groups n and d received orally 2 ml normal saline for two weeks, and groups n+c and d+c received orally 10 mg/kg colocynth pulp for two weeks. diabetes was induced in rats through intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin (stz). results: group d showed a significant increase in glucose levels compared with group n (p<0.0001), and testosterone levels, body weight, and reproductive organs weight ratio of group d decreased significantly compared with group n (p<0.0001). in addition, a significant reduction in glucose level (p<0.01) and a significant increase in testosterone level and reproductive organs weight ratio (p<0.01) were observed in group d+c in comparison to group d. conclusion: this study showed that consumption of 10 mg/kg colocynth for two weeks relatively improved glucose and testosterone levels as well as reproductive system damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.