Study of Galactomannan on Androgenic and Anabolic Activity in Male Rats

Galacomannan was isolated from Trigonella foenum graceum Linn Family: Leguminosae (TF) seeds. The objective was to study the anabolic and androgenic activity of galactomannan in immature castrated male rats and also on testicular histology in non-castrated immature rats. The rats (55± 5 g) were castrated. The rats were treated with either vehicle, testosterone (10 mg/kg s.c. bi weekly) or galactomannan (10 and 35 mg/kg p.o.) once daily for 4 weeks. Body weight, weights of male reproductive organs (viz. ventral prostate, seminal vesicle and musculus levator ani) was recorded. Serum testosterone level and blood urea nitrogenBUN were measured after 4 weeks of treatment. Galactomannan (35 mg/kg p.o) and testosterone (10 mg/kg s.c biweekly) treatment showed increase in weight of levator ani muscle and body weight. Galactomannan (10 or 35 mg/kg p.o) did not change testosterone level in castrated rats. Histopathological examination of testis was carried in immature noncastrated male Wister rats pretreated in a similar manner as above. In noncastrated rats (55±5) both galctomannan (10, 35 mg/kg p.o) and testosterone (10 mg/kg s.c. biweekly) did not alter normal architecture of testis. Galactomannan (35 mg/kg p.o.) is an anabolic compound without androgenic activity compared to anabolic and androgenic testosterone.