title: Influence of Griffonia simplicifolia on male sexual behavior in rats: behavioral and neurochemical study.
abstract: The seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia Baill. are rich in 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), a direct precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin. In the present study we investigated the influence of the plant extract on male sexual behavior. The seed extract was orally administered to Sprague-Dawley male rats at three dose levels (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) both acutely and subchronically (daily for 9 days). Mating test with receptive female rats was performed 60 min after the acute treatment or the last dose when repetitively administered. Mount, intromission and ejaculation latencies and post-ejaculatory interval were recorded. Food intake and body weight were measured over the 9-day period of treatment. Microdialysis technique was used to detect the extracellular levels of serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in rat brain following the acute administration of the extract dosed at 100mg/kg. The acute treatment significantly increased mount latency (at any dosage), intromission and ejaculation latencies (at 100 mg/kg) and post-ejaculatory interval (at 50 and 100 mg/kg). On the contrary the subchronic treatment failed to exert a significant influence on copulatory behavior. The daily administration of the extract dosed at 50 and 100 mg/kg for 9 days significantly reduced food intake and body weight. Finally in the microdialysis experiments we found a dramatic increase in 5-HT and its metabolite 5-HIAA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, I-41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carnevale
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Viesti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zavatti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zanoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D004542:Ejaculation; D005260:Female; D031295:Griffonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D017551:Microdialysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid