The effect of ferula elaeochytris (çakşir) root extract on the rat prostate and vas deferens smooth muscles

Ferula L. umbelliferous is a genus of flowering plants with 185 species. It is distributed in the eastern Mediterranean region and Central Asia. It usually grows in arid climates. There are 23 Ferula species which are known as ÇAKŞIR/ÇAĞŞIR in Anatolia. Their roots and leaves are used for mating stimulation in animals such as sheep and goats in Anatolia. Also, its roots and leaves are boiled and drunk as tea for aphrodisiac purposes by people. It was not shown that Ferula elaeochytris root extract affect the prostate and vas deferens tissues. In this thesis project, we investigate the effect of Ferula elaeochytris root extract on the isolated rat prostate and vas deferens tissues. Neurogenic contractions are formed by Electrical Field Stimulation(EFS) in rat vas deferens and prostate tissue and Ferula elaeochytris root extract, dose-dependent and significantly inhibited the contractions due to adrenergic and purinergic pathways. This inhibition is reversed dose-dependently by calcium added to organ bath. Our findings suggest that calcium channels may have a significant role in the inhibition mechanism of Ferula elaeochytris root extract in these tissues. Depending on vas deferens hypoactivity, Ferula elaeochytris root extract may slow down sperm transport and lead to male infertility. Used as an aphrodisiac this kind of plant is shown that it has aphrodisiac effects, otherwise the subject of causing male infertility still remains missing.