Observations placeholder
Celery as an anti-dote to infertility caused by epilepsy drugs
Identifier
012444
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
There is something fascinating about this observation. Epilepsy drugs - this one any way - in effect make you infertile and possibly impotent. Celery helps to counteract the effects of the drug.
The obvious question is then why take the drug? But this aside it also implies that celery has the potential to heal in this area anyway, without the detrimental effects of the drug to contend with.
A description of the experience
J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol. 2007 Apr 1;307(4):199-206.
Apium graveolens modulates sodium valproate-induced reproductive toxicity in rats.
Hamza AA1, Amin A. 1Biology Department, College of Science, UAE University, Al-Ain, UAE.
Sodium valproate (VPA), a common treatment of epilepsy and other diseases, is known to have severe toxic effects on testis both in experimental animals and in humans.
The present study was designed to investigate the protective effect of Apium graveolens (AG) against the VPA-induced testis injury.
Testicular toxicity was induced by the administration of VPA (500 mg/kg/day) once daily for 7 consecutive days. Protective group received daily doses (200 mg/kg/day) of AG crude extract for 23 days prior to VPA administration. VPA-induced reproductive toxicity was assessed based on the weight of testes, sperm analysis, and serum concentrations of sexual hormones.
The relative weights of testes and epididymes and the sperm numbers viability were all decreased following the valproate administration.
Testosterone levels dropped while follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level increased following the drug administration. Severe histopathological changes in testis were observed such as degeneration of seminiferous tubules and depletion of germ cells. These biochemical and histological changes were also associated with alterations of oxidative stress markers. Levels of malondialdehyde have increased, while superoxide dismutase activity has decreased.
Pretreatment with A. graveolens extract has effectively alleviated most of the VPA-induced effects suggesting a protective role of A. graveolens extract against experimental VPA-induced toxicity. Apigenin content was estimated and was shown as a major fraction of the A. graveolens extract.
PMID: 17351917
The source of the experience
PubMedConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Symbols
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
Epilepsy drugsErectile dysfunction
Infertility
Reproductive system disease