Abstract
The people of the Bayangi tribe (Manyu Division) of Cameroon have used the leaves of Pseudopanax arboreus (Araliaceae) traditionally for decades as an aphrodisiac. In order to scientifically investigate this folk claim, we evaluated the effects of the leaf-aqueous extract of P. arboreus on the sexual behavior of normal male rats. The present study was designed to assess the effects of the leaf-methanolic extract of P. arboreus on amitriptyline-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats. Sexually impaired male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 8 rats each. Group 1 received 10 ml/kg distilled water, while group 2 was given 6 mg/kg Viagra. Groups 3 and 4 received 46.5 and 93 mg/kg of the leaf-methanolic extract, respectively. Female rats were made receptive by ovariectomy and subsequent hormonal treatment. Sexual behavior parameters were monitored on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 by pairing each male to a receptive female. The extract-treated rats registered significant decrease in mount latency (ML) and intromission latency (IL); nonsignificant increase in mount frequency (MF), intromission frequency (IF), and penile licking (PL); significant decrease in postejaculatory interval (PEI); contrasting effects in ejaculation latency (EL); and mean intromission interval (MII). Both doses of the extract also provoked a significant increase in relative weight of testes, but had no significant effect on the plasma hormonal profile. These findings are similar to those obtained with normal male rats and show that the leaf-methanolic extract of P. arboreus could constitute a potential solution to male sexual impairment.
Highlights
Academic Editor: Tzi Bun Ng e people of the Bayangi tribe (Manyu Division) of Cameroon have used the leaves of Pseudopanax arboreus (Araliaceae) traditionally for decades as an aphrodisiac
In order to scientifically investigate this folk claim, we evaluated the effects of the leafaqueous extract of P. arboreus on the sexual behavior of normal male rats. e present study was designed to assess the effects of the leaf-methanolic extract of P. arboreus on amitriptyline-induced sexual dysfunction in male rats
Both doses of the extract provoked a significant increase in relative weight of testes, but had no significant effect on the plasma hormonal profile. ese findings are similar to those obtained with normal male rats and show that the leaf-methanolic extract of P. arboreus could constitute a potential solution to male sexual impairment
Summary
Products used in this study were of analytical quality and included amitriptiline hydrochloride 25 mg (Qualitest Pharmaceuticals Inc, Malvern, PA, USA); penicillin G and sildenafil citrate (Viagra) (Pfizer Inc, USA); estradiol and progesterone (Sigma Chemicals, USA); bioassay kits for FSH (DRG Diagnostics, Germany), LH (DRG Diagnostics, Germany), testosterone (Omega Diagnostics LTD, Scotland, UK); ethyl-ether (Mark and Baker LTD, Dagenham, England), and NaCl which were all purchased and handled under recommended conditions until used. Ree hundred grams of the ground powder were introduced into 3000 ml of methanol, kept for 72 hours accompanied by intermittent mechanical agitation. It was filtered using the laboratory test sieve (Endecotts Ltd., England) of 38 μm aperture. Part of the yield was submitted to the Laboratory for Plant and Organic Chemistry of the Department of Chemistry, University of Buea for phytochemical screening. Administrative doses were determined following the tradipratitioner’s directives and screening tests
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