Aphrodisiac activity of polyherbal formulation in experimental models on male rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the aphrodisiac potential of polyherbal formulations prepared from different parts of Tribulus terrestris, Curculigo orchioides, Allium tuberosum, Cucurbita pepo, Elephant creeper, Mucuna pruriens, and Terminalia catappa in Albino rats in specified ratio as suspension.


METHODS
The different concentrations of prepared polyherbal formulations i.e. 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg and sildenafil citrate as standard (5 mg/kg) and vehicle (control) were administered orally to rats (n = 6 animals per group) for 3 weeks. Mating behavior parameters in male rats was monitored in first week and third week week of treatment pairing with receptive females. After termination of drug treatment, the mating performance, hormonal analysis, sperm count, and testes-body weight ratio were also evaluated.


RESULTS
The polyherbal formulation showed a significant increase in mating behavior as well as mating performance, serum hormonal levels, sperm count, and testes-body weight ratio with dose-dependent relationship as compared to vehicle control. But the dose of 600 mg/kg of polyherbal formulation assumes closer resemblance of above parameters with the standard used.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study strongly suggest that the polyherbal formulations have a good aphrodisiac activity on rats in the above experimental models, which may be an alternative weapon for various sexual dysfunctions in future.
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Biology, Vedica College of Pharmacy, RKDF University, Bhopal, India.
Himanshu Bhusan
HB
Sahoo
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Biology, Vedica College of Pharmacy, RKDF University, Bhopal, India.
Subhangkar
S
Nandy
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and Technology, Salipur, India.
Aswini Kumar
AK
Senapati
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Jayamukhi Institute of Pharmaceutical science, Warangal, India.
Sarada Prasad
SP
Sarangi
Sri Sivani College of Pharmacy, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Saroj Kumar
SK
Sahoo
Aphrodisiac; mating behavior; polyherbal formulations; serum hormonal levels; sexual dysfunctions; testes-body weight ratio