EVALUATION OF THE APHRODISIAC EFFECT OF THE SUB ACUTE ADMINISTRATION OF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF Garcinia kola SEEDS IN MALE WISTAR RATS

ABSTRACT

Garcinia kola commonly known as bitter or male kola has a distinct bitter taste because of its acclaimed aphrodisiac property. This study aimed to evaluate the sub-acute aphrodisiac effect of Garcinia kola seedsaqueous in male Wistar rats. The aphrodisiac potential of the G. kola was determined by assessing the aphrodisiac parameters; genital sniffing, genital grooming, mount frequency (MF), intromission frequency (IF), ejaculation frequency (EF), mount latency (ML), intromission latency (IL), and ejaculation latency (EL) following a sub-acute (3 days) administration of the extract. Other aphrodisiac parameters include; copulatory frequency (CE), inter-copulatory efficiency (IE), post-ejaculatory interlude (PEI)) of the rats.The weight of the testes and penis of  the Wistar rats were also assessed.Graded doses (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) of Garcinia kola seed aqueous extract and 100 mg/kg sildenafil citrate were administered orally consecutive for 3 days to explore the aphrodisiac potential of the plant. The female animals were made receptive by 1 mg/kg estradiol benzoate and 100 µg/100 g progesterone artificial hormonal stimulant. The result displayed from this study exhibit a significant increase in the plant extract mainly at 25 and 50 mg/kg of the extract in (MF = 28.00 count; IF = 27.00 count; EF = 3.00; GS = 8.00 count; GG = 20.00 count; ML = 480 sec.; IL = 410 sec.; EL = 85 sec.; CE = 85 %; IE 13.00 count and PEI = 25 count) when compared with the control. The extract at 50mg/kg had the best the best aphrodisiac potential. A significant increase was observed for the penile weight at 50 mg/kg. In conclusion, Garcinia kola at 25 and 50 mg/kg showed aphrodisiac potential, affirming the ethnomedicinal benefits of the plant.