الفهرس 
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Abstract
Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are synthetic derivatives of testosterone introduced for therapeutic purposes providing enhanced anabolic potency with reduced androgenic effects. The severity of the undesired effects of anabolic steroids depends on a variety of factors, from which, the type, the dose and the duration of administration, as well as the gender of the person taking the drug.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate some biochemical changes in serum and tissues of normal healthy rats treated at various periods of time with some chosen growth promoters; Nandrolone decanoate (ND) and Cynara scolymus L leaves extract (ALE). Therefore, this study also aimed to compare the biochemical effects between both agents, ND and ALE. Moreover, to examine for the first time whether the use of ALE in concomitant with high dose of ND can improve some or most of the adverse side effects that may possibly be resulted from the high dosage of ND treatment.
Rats were divided into six groups (control saline, control oil, low ND-, high ND-, ALE- and ALE+high ND-treated groups). A total of 180 blood samples were collected from the control and treated groups after two, four and six weeks, and 60 liver tissue samples were collected at the end of experimental period. The serum samples were subjected to the determination of the biochemical parameters (glucose, lipid profile, AST, ALT, Albumin, creatinine, urea, uric acid, calcium and iron). Some antioxidants and oxidative stress indices (GSH, SOD, MDA and NO) were determined in the hepatic tissue samples.
Results were recorded in (13) tables and (18) figures. The obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis and revealed the following:
1) ND treatment with low dose resulted in a slight to moderate increase of BWG, serum glucose (at 2nd experimental periods), serum total cholesterol, iron and hepatic MDA. Significant increase in LDL, slight decrease in HDL, significant decrease in creatinine (at 1st and 2nd experimental period), uric acid (at 1st experimental period) and calcium (at 3rd experimental period), whereas no significant change in serum TG, ALT, AST, albumin, urea, hepatic GSH, SOD and NO concentrations compared to control oil.
2) ND treatment with high dose exerted a moderate increase of BWG, iron and hepatic MDA. significant increase of serum glucose (at 2nd and 3rd experimental periods), serum total cholesterol, LDL, ALT and AST (at the end of experiment), significant decrease in HDL, creatinine (at 1st and 2nd experimental period), uric acid (at 1st experimental period) and calcium (at 3 rd experimental period), without significant change in serum TG, albumin, urea, hepatic GSH, SOD and NO concentrations compared to control oil.
3) In relation to the dose effect, the high dose showed no significant increase in BWG, serum glucose, serum TG, total cholesterol, AST enzyme activity albumin, creatinine, urea, uric acid, calcium, iron and hepatic GSH, SOD, MDA and NO concentration compared to low ND-treated group. In high ND-treated group, there was a significant decrease in serum HDL (1st and 2nd experimental periods.) and a significant increase in serum LDL (at 2nd experimental period) and serum ALT activity (at 3rd experimental period) compared to low ND-treated group.
4) Treatment with ALE resulted in a significant increase in BWG compared to control saline group after 6 weeks of intake and showed no significant changes in serum glucose, TG, serum total cholesterol, ALT, AST enzyme activities, urea levels, hepatic MDA, GSH, SOD and NO concentrations. And a significant increase in each of serum HDL levels, albumin levels (at third experimental period) and iron concentration (at 2nd and 3rd experimental periods) compared to control saline group. On the other hand, ALE-treated group showed a significant decrease in each of serum LDL (at 3rd experimental periods), creatinine concentration (at 2nd experimental period.), and uric acid concentration (at 1st experimental period experimental period). ALE-treated group showed a moderate increase in serum calcium concentration.
5) The combination of ALE with high ND dose resulted in a marked significant increase of BWG only at the end of experiment. Non significant increase in serum glucose (at 2nd and 3rd experimental period) and each of serum total cholesterol, LDL levels and iron levels. No significant variations in serum TG, ALT, AST activities, albumin and calcium levels, hepatic GSH, MDA, NO concentration and SOD enzyme activity. Non significant decrease in serum HDL. A significant decrease was recorded in serum creatinine level (at 1st and 2nd experimental periods), uric acid concentration (at 1st period only) when compared to control saline and control oil groups.
6) ALE administration showed a significant increase in each of BWG (only after 6 weeks), serum HDL concentration, albumin (at the last period), calcium concentration (at 3rd experimental period) and iron values with a level higher than that of both doses of the drug, nandrolone. ALE-treated group showed no significant variations in each of serum TG, creatinine concentration, urea, uric acid concentrations and hepatic GSH, NO and SOD enzyme activity compared to both low and high ND-treated groups. ALE-treated group showed a decrease in each of Serum glucose level, serum total cholesterol (at 2nd and 3rd experimental periods compared to low and high ND doses) and each of serum LDL, serum ALT and AST activities (at 3rd experimental periods than that of high ND-treated group) and hepatic MDA concentration compared to low ND-treated group and high ND-treated group.