ABSTRACT

This study investigated the aphrodisiac potentials of a herbal preparation used in Osogbo, South West region of Nigeria as an aphrodisiac using physical behavioral sexual parameters and biochemical analysis.

The Herbal preparation was obtained from a traditional healer in the South-West region of Nigeria and subjected to phytochemical analysis. 20 male wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 4 animals each, 10 female rats were also obtained for the study. Group 5 served as negative control and nothing was administered to them, while groups 1, 2 and 3 received the herbal preparation at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg respectively. Group 4 received sildenafil (50 mg/kg) as positive control. All administration was done orally, using an orogastric tube and the physical sexual behavior parameters were observed. To study the effects on serum testosterone concentration, serum lipid profile and sperm parameters (count, motility and viability), the animals were chloroform anesthetized. Blood was collected and subsequently centrifuged. The sera were collected and used for the determination of testosterone concentration and serum lipid profile within 24 hours of preparation. The caudal epididymis of the rats also was excised and used for the determination of sperm count, motility and viability.

Major secondary metabolites identified to be present in the herbal preparation were saponin glycosides, cyanogenetic glycosides, cardiac glycosides and reducing sugars. There was significant enhancement of the sexual behaviour parameters -: anogenital grooming, mounting frequency, intromission frequency, and ejaculatory latency (p > 0.05). There was also a positive effect on the ejaculation frequency, mounting latency and intromission latency howbeit the effect was not significant. There was also positive effect on the testosterone concentration and some significant effect on the serum lipid profile. However, the herbal preparation showed no significant effect on the sperm count, motility and viability.

In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate that the herbal preparation has aphrodisiac activity and positive effect on serum testosterone concentration as well as serum lipid profile. The effects observed could be due the presence of constituents such as saponin glycosides and other secondary plant metabolites which are present in the preparation.