Effects of extracts from Hibiscus macranthus and Basella alba mixture on testosterone production in vitro in adult rat testes slices

Aim: To find an in vitro system for the measurement of the androgenic effects of different extracts of Hibiscus macranthus (Malvaceae) and Basella alba (Basellaceae). Methods: The production of testosterone from testes slices incubated in two media, either Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 0.5 % Bovine serum albumin (BSA) or Dubecco’s Modified Eagle’s medium-F12 Ham nutrient mixture (DME/Ham F12), under a mixture of 5 % CO2 in 95 % air was determined either in the presence or absence of cofactors and Hibiscus macranthus plus Basella alba (HMBA) extracts. Results: The testosterone production was increased in testes slices incubated in DME/Ham F12 medium in response to the cofactors (49 %) and aqueous extracts (34 %–60 % according to dilutions). Under the same atmospheric conditions, there was no positive response of the testes slices to either cofactor or HMBA extract stimulation in Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing 0.5 % BSA. In further investigations related to the effect of HMBA, the DME/ Ham F12 medium was used. The results obtained from the in vitro test showed that the activity was present mainly in methylene chloride and methanol, since these extracts induced an increase in testosterone production by testes slices. Conclusion: The testes slice system is suitable to be used for further in vitro investigations of the isolation of androgenic bioactive components of plants. (Asian J Androl 2006 Jan; 8: 111–114)