title: Aphrodisiac effect of aqueous root extract of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides in sexually impaired rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The phytochemical constituents of the aqueous root extract of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides Planch. Ex Bth. and its aphrodisiac activity on male rat sexual behavior and reproductive hormones in paroxetine-induced sexual dysfunction were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The extract was screened for the presence of phytochemicals. The extract (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight) and the reference herbal drug PowmaxM (7.14 mg/kg body weight) were administered orally to paroxetine-induced sexually impaired male rats, once daily for 5 days, and their sexual behavior parameters were monitored and computed. The serum hormones (testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone) were determined at the end of treatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, phenolics, saponins, and tannins. Mount frequency (MF), intromission frequency (IF), ejaculatory frequency (EF), and testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone concentrations were reduced significantly (p<0.05) in paroxetine-treated rats. Administration of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight of the aqueous root extract of L. cupanioides significantly (p<0.05) reversed the paroxetine-mediated alterations in MF, IF, EF, mount latency (ML), intromission latency (IL), ejaculatory latency (EL), postejaculatory interval (PEI), and testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone concentrations dose-dependently. The reversal of the male sexual behavior parameters by the extract compared well (p<0.05) with the PowmaxM-treated animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data obtained from this study revealed that the aqueous root extract of L. cupanioides restored sexual competence in sexually impaired rats possibly by increasing sexual drive through enhanced reproductive hormones concentration, particularly testosterone, thus supporting the folkloric claim of the plant for the management of sexual disorder in males.
authors.forename: Taofeek O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Ajiboye
authors.forename: Quadri O
authors.initials: QO
authors.lastname: Nurudeen
authors.forename: Musa T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Yakubu
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001046:Aphrodisiacs / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042341:Gonadal Hormones / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D029631:Sapindaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001046:Aphrodisiacs; D042341:Gonadal Hormones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014867:Water; D017374:Paroxetine