Androgenic potentials of aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata (G. Don) Bullock ex Hoyl. stem in male Wistar rats.
The use of medicinal plants in the management of several ailments is gaining popularity nowadays. Massularia acuminata, one of such plants is commonly used as chewing sticks due to its antimicrobial activity and the aqueous extract of its stem as an aphrodisiac. Aphrodisiac activity in some plants may be due to androgen increasing property of its phytochemicals.


OBJECTIVE
This study therefore sought to assess the androgenic potentials of aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata stem in male rats for 21 days.


METHODS
Male rats weighing between 220 and 260 g were completely randomized into four groups: A, B, C and D. Group A, the control received orally 1 ml of distilled water (the vehicle) while groups B, C and D were orally administered with 1 ml each corresponding to 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the plant extract, respectively for 21 days. Rats were sacrificed 24h after 1, 7 and 21 days.


RESULTS
Compared with the control, extract administration at all the doses produced significant increase (P<0.05) in testes-body weight ratio, testicular protein, glycogen, sialic acid, cholesterol, testosterone, luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormone concentrations throughout the period of administration. Testicular gamma glutamyl transferase activities were decreased significantly (P<0.05) after the first dose and was sustained throughout the experimental period.


CONCLUSIONS
The available evidence in this study suggests that aqueous extract of Massularia acuminata stem has androgenic potential which may stimulate male sexual maturation and enhance normal testicular function.
Yakubu
Musa Toyin
MT
Medicinal Plants Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, PMB 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria. tomuyak@yahoo.com
Akanji
Musbau Adewumi
MA
Oladiji
Adenike Temidayo
AT
Adesokan
Ayoade Abdulfatai
AA
D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019666:Rubiaceae; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis
D000728:Androgens; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D006003:Glycogen