Effect of lyophilized aqueous leaf extract of Aquilaria subintegra on aphrodisiac properties in mice

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of Aquilaria subintegra leaf aqueous extracts on the aphrodisiac properties including sexual behaviour, testosterone level, percentage of pregnancy, number of offspring and male to female ratio of offspring in ICR mice. Methods: In this experiment, each male cohabitated with one female in a polysulfone cage. 30 ICR male mice were divided into 6 groups that received normal saline (the control group), 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 1 000 mg/kg body weight of Aquilaria subintegra leaf aqueous extracts orally for 21 days consecutively. Sexual behavior, percentage of pregnancy, number of offspring and male to female ratio of offspring in ICR mice were measured according to the established methods. Testosterone level was measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Mice that received Aquilaria subintegra leaf aqueous extracts at 50 mg/kg body weight (day 0) had significantly higher mount frequency as compared to the control group; groups treated with 100, 500, 1 000 mg/kg body weight extracts produced a greater number of offsprings when compared to the control group. All aphrodisiac parameters were similar between the treatment groups and the control group, indicating that Aquilaria subintegra leaf aqueous extract did not significantly alter the aphrodisiac parameters. Conclusions: Aquilaria subintegra leaf aqueous extracts have no effect on the aphrodisiac properties, but could increase the breeding rate in mice.