THE POTENTIAL OF MILICIA EXCELSA (WELW.) C. C. BERG (MORACEAE) ROOT BARK METHANOL EXTRACT AND FRACTIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF MALE INFERTILITY IN RATS

THE POTENTIAL OF MILICIA EXCELSA (WELW.) C. C. BERG (MORACEAE) ROOT BARK METHANOL EXTRACT AND FRACTIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF MALE INFERTILITY IN RATS

 

ANTHONY ADEBAYO GBOLADE +, EROMONSE STEWART OJIEHO, AYOFE MURITALA ADEBAYO, SANDRA CHIZUA IGWE

  1. Phytotherapy Research Group, Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State, Nigeria.

Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 14(1): 067-075 ; Jan – June 2022

ABSTRACT

Milicia excelsa root bark decoction is a traditional aphrodisiac and remedy for internal ailments like asthma, cough, heart disease, dysmenorrhoea, and externally for treating scabies, hair loss, sprains and wounds. Therefore, this study evaluated aphrodisiac potential of M. excelsa in male Wister rats by oral administration of graded doses: 100, 250 and 1000 mg/kg of crude methanol (MeOH) extract, and 100 and 200 mg/kg each of aqueous (AQ) and dichloromethane (DCM) fractions to male rats using standard procedure. Sildenafil citrate and distilled water served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Sexual behavioural parameters like mount, intromission and ejaculatory frequencies and latencies were recorded on day 7. Anti-lipid peroxidation effect and serum testosterone concentrations were also monitored. From the sexual behavioural study, MeOH extract (1000 mg/kg) and dichloromethane fractions (200 mg/kg) significantly (p< 0.05) increased intromission and mount frequencies, comparable to Sildenafil citrate. Ejaculatory frequency was increased (p< 0.05) by only the AQ fraction, and was comparable to standard drug. Intromission and mount latencies witnessed expected dose-dependent decreases by all three tested agents. Testosterone concentrations were also increased dose-dependently (p< 0.05) by all tested agents, and order of activity was: MeOH extract > DCM fraction > AQ fraction. Only the extract was comparable to standard drug in testosterone level. Lipid peroxidation was marginally inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by MeOH extract and DCM fraction at 400 – 1000 μg/mL, but was not comparable to Vitamin E. M. excelsa root bark investigated for the first time for aphrodisiac activity increased serum testosterone and had positive effects on sexual behavioural indices, and this justifies its acclaimed local use in treating male infertility.

 

Email of correspondence: gbolade.adebayo@iuokada.edu.ng;

KEYWORDS:Milicia excelsa; Anti-lipid peroxidation activity; Aphrodisiac activity; Rat; Root bark.