Effects of aqueous extract of rafflesia cantleyi bud on aphrodisiac activity in male sprague dawley rats

Abstract

Rafflesia cantleyi is locally known as Bunga Pakma has been used in Malaysian folk medicine by men as an energy drink or an aphrodisiac. However, there has been no evaluation of the effect of the repeated dosing of R. cantleyi bud. The current work was undertaken to evaluate the acclaimed aphrodisiac activity of R. cantleyi bud on male rats. The 40 adult male rats were divided into 4 groups (n =10 per group/dose). Rats in group A (control) were administered with 1 mL of distilled water while those in groups B, C and D were given same volume containing 250, 500 and 1000 mg kg-1 b.wt., of R. cantleyi bud water extract, respectively for 28 days. The effect of the extract on body weight, reproductive organ weight and serum testosterone concentration were determined. Sexual behavior parameters were monitored in male rats for weekly mounting test and on day 28 by pairing with a receptive female (1:1). The results revealed that the R. cantleyi bud water extract significantly increase body weight and serum testosterone content (p<0.05). Moreover, the bud extract markedly influence the orientation behavior of treated animals which showed more attraction towards female rats. Sexual behavior observations on the animals result revealed presence of precopulatory and copulatory behaviors (chasing, sniffing and mounting) by the tested male rats. The extract at doses 250, 500, 1000 mg kg-1 b.wt. significantly increase the frequency of mount and intromission (p<0.05). In addition, the ejaculation latency was significantly prolonged. The mount and intromission latencies were reduced significantly whereas ejaculation frequency significantly increased (p<0.05). Computed percentage of mounted, intromitted, ejaculated, index of libido and copulatory efficiency were higher in treated group compared to control group. The present study demonstrates that water extract of R. cantleyi bud increases testosterone level and enhances sexual behavior in male rats. The dose taken must be cautiously monitored.