Abstract
Mucuna urens is a shrub from the family of Fabaceae. It is claimed by the local people in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria to weaken the penis and reduce sexual performance in men. This work was designed to study the effects of methanol extract of Mucuna urens on the sexual behaviour and sperm parameters of male albino rats. For the sexual behaviour experiment, 30 sexually mature male rats were used weighing (130-188 g). Animals were divided into 5 groups of 6 animals each. Group 1 received 5 mg/kg of tween 80, groups II, III and IV received the low dose (500 mg/kg), middle dose (1000 mg/kg) and high dose (1500 mg/kg) of the extract respectively while group V received 1 mg/kg of testosterone for seven days. Females used for the experiment received 17- β estradiol (8 g/kg body weight) and progesterone (500 g/kg body weight) 48 hours and 4 hours respectively prior to the experiment. For the sperm analysis, 30 male albino rats weighing (130 -176 g) were used. Animals were divided into 5 groups of 6 animals each. The first group received 5 mg/kg of tween 80, groups II, III and IV received low dose (500 mg/kg), middle dose (1000 mg/kg) and high dose (1500 mg/kg) of the extract respectively for 14 days. Group V received 1 mg/kg of testosterone twice weekly. Animals were sacrificed and the sperm was analysed. The extract altered significantly some of the parameters of sexual behaviour which include an increase in mount latency and a decrease in intromission latency when compared to the negative control and positive control group. There was a dose dependent decrease in mount frequency and intromission latency. There was a decrease in the post ejaculatory interval of the extract group compared to the negative control and positive control group. There was a distortion in sperm morphology resulting in sperms with curved and bent necks and sperms with a slender body. The observed effects may in part be due to the presence of the different phytochemical constituents in the seed.
Highlights
In many countries, there is little regulation of traditional medicine but the World Health Organization (WHO) coordinates a network to encourage safe and rational usage
The extract altered significantly some of the parameters of sexual behaviour which include an increase in mount latency and a decrease in intromission latency when compared to the negative control and positive control group
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of methanol seed extract of Mucuna urens on the sexual behavior and sperm integrity in male albino rats
Summary
There is little regulation of traditional medicine but the World Health Organization (WHO) coordinates a network to encourage safe and rational usage. The use of plant-based materials including herbal or natural health products with supposed health benefits is increasing in developed countries. This brings attendant risks of toxicity and their effects on human health despite the safe image of herbal remedies. The plant contains physostigmine, the seeds contains the amino acid L-dopa (Levodopa), which stimulates the formation of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain [7]. It has anti-anaemic effect, antibacterial effect and inhibitory activity on some enzymes. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of methanol seed extract of Mucuna urens on the sexual behavior and sperm integrity in male albino rats
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