Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 33(1), July – August 2015; Article No. 13, Pages: 62-67 ISSN 0976 – 044X International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research Available online at www.globalresearchonline.net © Copyright protected. Unauthorised republication, reproduction, distribution, dissemination and copying of this document in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. © Copyright pro 62 Padmaja Kalshetti a* , Prasad Thakurdesai b , Ramesh Alluri c a Department of Pharmacology, MAEER’S Maharashtra Institute of Pharmacy, Paud Road, Kothrud, Pune, India. b Indus Biotech Private Limited, 1, Rahul Residency, Off Salunke Vihar Road, Kondhwa, Pune, India. c Dept of Pharmacology, Vishnu Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Narsapur, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India. * Corresponding author’s E-mail: padmaja.kalshetti@gmail.com Accepted on: 07-05-2015; Finalized on: 30-06-2015. ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to evaluate the standardized extract of Commiphora mukul Engl. (Burseraceae) in olfactory bulbectomy induced sexual and immune dysfunction in rats. Olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) was performed in male Sprague dawley rats (250-270gms). After recovery period of 14 days, 8 groups of animals were made (6 per group) as, Group-I rats served as SHAM control (Without surgery, burr holes drilled), Group-II rats served as OBX control group, Group-III, IV, V served as standard treatment groups i.e. imipramine, fluoxetine and desipramine (20mg/ kg p.o., 30mg/ kg p.o., 15mg/ kg p.o.) treated group, Groups VI, VII and VIII served as drug treatment groups (HECM 50, 100 and 200 mg/ kg p.o.). All the treatments were continued for 14 days after recovery period. Sexual behaviour parameters were taken on 29 th day and animals sacrificed at the end for brain dopamine estimation. All three standards as well as all three doses of hydro alcoholic extract of Commiphora mukul (HECM) does dependently normalized OBX induced sexual and immune abnormalities. There was a significant improvement in all the parameters of sexual behavior, altered differential leukocyte count, weight of spleen and thymus and brain DA level by the treatment with standards as well as two higher doses of HECM. Commiphora mukul at all the doses significantly improved sexual and immune dysfunction induced by OBX, which is comparable with standard drugs. Keywords: stress, depression, olfactory bulbectomy, dopamine, sexual dysfunction INTRODUCTION epression is a major disorder affecting nearly 13% - 20% of the world’s population. 1 Roughly, 90% of depressive patients suffer with mild to moderate depression, while only 10% are suffering with severely depression. In case of mild to moderate depression, in particular, some of the physicians and patients are reluctant for use of standard antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants because of their potential and toxic side effects. Therefore, the additional treatment strategies with fewer side effects profile, moderate costs and credible benefits are of particular interest. 2,3 So, in search of new molecules really useful for the treatment of certain neurological disorders, medicinal plant research is progressed worldwide by demonstrating pharmacological effectiveness of various plant species in a different variety of animal models. 4 Commiphora mukul plant belongs to Burseraceae family and has a resinous secretion known as guggul. Guggul is one of the most valuable remedies in ayurvedic system of medicine. Its usage backs to over 2500 years. Guggul has been used as antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, anti- inflammatory, antiosteoarthritic, sedative, antispasmodic, astringent, antiseptic, carminative, expectorant, emmenagogue, thyroid stimulant, diaphoretic, antiobesity, diuretic, anthelminitic and demulcent in traditional medicine. Commiphora mukul has been reported to contain flavonoids, terpenes, and phytosterols. 5 However, the steroid guggulsterone has been purified from the ethylacetate extract of resin. 6 Guggulsterone is the active steroid present in plant and acts as antagonist of the bile acid farnesoid X receptor, by demonstrating the hypolipidemic effect of the resin. The olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) rat is a validated animal model that meets most of the criteria’s of a clinical depression. Bilateral removal of the olfactory bulbs results in a phenotype modeling. Several of the symptoms seen in major depression, including many of the behavioral, neurochemical, neuroendocrine and immune alterations. 7-9 Recently we have reported the antidepressant effects of standardized extract of commiphora mukul (HECM) in olfactory bulbectomy induced depression model. It was found that, HECM represents restorative effects in OBX induced depression model in rats probably due to stress reliving mechanisms. 10 Therefore it was found interesting to study the effect of sub-acute administration of HECM in olfactory bulbectomy induced sexual dysfunction in rats. M ATERIALS AND M ETHODS Animals Male Sprague Dawley rats (250–270 g) were purchased from National Toxicology Centre (NTC), Pune. The animals were housed at a temperature of 25±1 °C and relative humidity of 45–55% under 12:12 light: dark cycle. The animals had free access to feed pellets (Chakan Oil Mills Effect of Standardized Extract of Commiphora M ukul Engl. ( Burseraceae) on Bulbectomy Induced Sexual and Immune Dysfunction in Rats. D Research Article