Background & Aim: Waltheria indica is a shrub whose roots are used in many communities of Northern Nigeria to manage several sexual behavioral disorders; however, there is no scientific study to verify this claim. The aim of the study is to determine the effect of m
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Background & Aim: Waltheria indica is a shrub whose roots are used in many communities of Northern Nigeria to manage several sexual behavioral disorders; however, there is no scientific study to verify this claim. The aim of the study is to determine the effect of methanol root extract of Waltheria indica and its fractions (ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and residual ethanol) on sexual orientation and sexual behavioral parameters in male albino rats.Experimental: Male rats were divided into five groups each containing 6 rats. Group 1 rats were treated with normal saline. Rats in Groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg crude extracts while rats in Group 5 were treated with Sildenafil 5 mg/kg. Treatment was administered once daily for 7 days. Female rats were artificially brought to oestrus by administering oestradiol 25 μg/kg and progesterone 500 μg/kg 48 and 8 h respectively prior to mating The mating was done in a 1:1 ratio and mating behaviour was observed on days 1 and 7. Similar procedure was repeated, normal saline, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg of the ethyl acetate, n-butanol and mother liquor fractions, respectively and sexual behavioral parameters were observed.Results: Crude extract and fractions of Waltheria indica significantly increased sexual behavioral parameters, with the n-butanol and mother liquor fractions being most active.Recommended applications/industries: The study showed that methanol root extract of Waltheria indica and its fractions have aphrodisiac activity with the n-butanol and residual methanol fractions being more active. These revelations further substantiates the traditional use of Waltheria indica for the management of infertility in male, thus such discovery can serve as a lead for the development of drugs for the management of sexual dysfunctions.
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