Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt Nigeria

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of xylopia aethiopica on the sexual behavior of adult male rats. Fort eight adult male wistar rats were used for the study. They were randomly divided into four groups of 6 animals each: group 1 was control, while groups 2, 3 and 4 were test groups treated daily with 0.5, 2 and 10 mg/kg body weight respectively of hydro-methanolic fruit extract of xylopia aethiopice for 30 consecutive days followed by 30 days recovery. Mating test was performed on six animals from each group on days 30 and 60 of the study. Also, 6 animals were sacrificed from each group and blood collected for serum testosterone assay on 31st and 61st days of the study. Results show significant (P<0.05) dose dependent increase in ejaculation latency (EL), and post ejaculatory interval (PEI) with significant decrease (P<0.05) in ejaculation frequency (EF) and in serum testosterone levels in rats in all the test groups. We conclude that xylopia aethiopice enhances copulatory performance without altering sexual excitement, arousal and motivation; therefore could be useful in the management of male sexual dysfunction

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