effect of vitex agnus-castus ethanolic extract on sex hormones in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Objective: diabetes mellitus is recognized as one of the serious global health problems. there are evidences regarding the high prevalence of sexual dysfunction in diabetic patients. experimental studies revealed a positive effect of vitex agnus-castus (vitex), on sexual function and behaviors. in this research, the effect of vitex on sexual hormones in streptozotocin-(stz) induced diabetic rats was investigated. materials and methods: a thirty adult female wistar rats were divided into five groups. 1-control group (non-diabetic), 2- diabetic group (received normal saline) and three induced diabetic groups treated with different doses (400, 200 and 100 mg/kg) of vitex. treatment groups received vitex fruit extract by gavage for 7 days. the levels of luteinizing hormone (lh), follicle-stimulating hormone (fsh), progesterone and estrogen in serum were measured. results: levels of lh, fsh, estrogen and progesterone and average body weight was lower in diabetic group compared to control group (p <0.010). animals received high dose of vitex fruit extract (400mg/kg) had significantly higher levels of serum lh, fsh, estrogen and progesterone compared to diabetic group (p < 0.010). in animals receiving minimum dose (100mg/kg) of vitex, no difference was observed compared to diabetic group (p > 0.010). conclusion: it can be concluded that vitex fruit extract probably has regulatory effect on diabetes-induced change in the levels of sex hormones in female rats. vitex fruit extract can improve serum levels of sex hormones in an animal model of stz-induced diabetes.