121 Aphrodisiac Activity of Pomegranate
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE Discovery Phytomedicine 2020, Volume 7, Number 2: 65-71 Aphrodisiac Activity of Pomegranate (Punica Original Article granatum L.) fruit extract on the sexual function in rats. CrossMark Doi: Discovery Phytomedicine.2020.121 Lydia Kadzo Katana,1* Charles Irungu Maina,1 Caleb Oburu Orenge2 Volume No.: 7 ABSTRACT Punica granatum L. has proven to possess aphrodisiacs effects in Intromission Frequency, Intromission Latency and caused a significant Issue: 2 the management of male sexual disorder. There being no scientific reduction in Mounting Latency and Post Ejaculatory Intervals. validation of these claims, Punica granatum fruit extract was It also significantly increased Mounting Frequency with Penile investigated for its aphrodisiac activity in male rats. anaesthetization as well as frequencies of Erection, Quick and Flips, Fifty (50) adult male and female albino rats of Wistar strain Long Flips and the aggregate of penile reflexes with penile stimulation. First page No.: 65 weighing 250-350 g and 200-250g respectively were used in this In addition, the extract was also observed to be devoid of any adverse study. The pomegranate fruit extract was orally administered (500, effects and acute toxicity. 1000 and 1500 mg/kg) to different groups of male rats on a once-daily The resultant significant and sustained increase in the sexual regime for seven (7) days. activity of normal male rats without any conspicuous adverse effects RH_Author: XXX Oral administration of Punica granatum L. fruit extract at the indicate that Punica granatum certainly has aphrodisiac activity dose of 1500 mg/kg produced a significant increase of sexual activity particularly at the dose of 1500 mg/kg and lends support to the in male rats. It caused a significant increase in Mounting Frequency, traditional claim. Keywords: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), Aphrodisiac, Sexual behavior, Erectile dysfunction. *Correspondence to: INTRODUCTION Lydia Kadzo Katana, Department of Biological Sciences, Egerton Erectile dysfunction (ED) also called impotence, effects ranging from sudden vision loss, chest University, P. O. Box, 536-20115 is the inability to attain and maintain a penile pain, nausea, general ill-health to irregular heart- Njoro, Kenya erection that is sufficient to sustain satisfactory beat. Recent focus has shifted to the effectiveness [email protected] sexual activity for both partners (Njila et al., of natural products on sexual function such as 2018). Erectile dysfunction is one of the most pomegranate which has been shown to have Cite This Article: Katana, L.K., prevalent kinds of sexual debilitation which is set significant biological effects. Maina, C.I., Orenge, C.O. 2020. to increase over time. The global prevalence of ED Pomegranate a predominant member of the Aphrodisiac Activity of Pomegranate in 1995 was estimated to be over 152 million men Punicaceae family has proven to exhibit import- (Punica granatum L.) fruit extract on the sexual function in rats. Discovery and the projections for 2025 shows a prevalence ant physiological properties, such as anticancer Phytomedicine 7(2): 65-71. DOI: of approximately 322 million with ED, an increase (Afaq et al., 2005; Lansky, 2005) anti-proliferative, 10.15562/phytomedicine.2019.121 of nearly 170 million men (Rakuambo et al., apoptotic (Seeram et al., 2005), HIV-I entry inhibi- 2012). Just over half of all men experience erectile tory (Neurath et al., 2004), cardioprotective, antihy- dysfunction (ED) and at age 40 and above, about perlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, 40% experience light to moderate ED and by age anti-bacterial activities and as a powerful antiox- 70, men will experience 70% chance of erectile idant and antifungal substance (Tehranifar et al., dysfunction. Impotence can trigger a feeling of 2011). Animal studies have shown that pome- low esteem and depression which further leads to granate juice intake increases testosterone levels in anticipatory anxiety. It also affects one’s mascu- men, one of the main hormones behind sex drive linity and confidence, and emotional fall out as (Emad and Nacer, 2014) also increases the number well for their partners. Men suffering from sexual of motile sperm (Fedder et al., 2014) and on semen dysfunction can be successful at reversing their quality (Fayed et al., 2012; Turk et al., 2008). problem by a focus on lifestyle factors and not Therapeutically beneficial constituents of pome- just relying on conventional aphrodisiac drugs. granate include ellagic acid, ellagitannins, puni- Many drugs like sildenafil (Viagra) have side callagins, punic acid, flavonoids, anthocycanidins, 1Department of Biological Sciences, Egerton University, P. O. Box, 536-20115 Njoro, Kenya. [email protected] 2Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, Egerton University, P. O. Box, 536-20115 Njoro, Kenya. [email protected] www.phytomedicine.ejournals.ca Discovery Phytomedicine 2020; 7(2): 65-71. doi: 10.15562/phytomedicine.2020.121 65 Aphrodisiac Activity of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit... Lydia Kadzo Katana, et al. antocyanins and estragenic flavones (Seeram et al., Kenya). Estradiol and Progesterene were procured 2005; Bachoual et al., 2011). from Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited Throughout history, pomegranate symbolizes (Mumbai, India), 5% xylocaine ointment was fertility, rebirth, health and wellbeing (Mansour obtained from Lexicare Pharma PVT. LTD. et al., 2013). It has been postulated to enhance sexual (Nairobi, Kenya). And all other chemical and drive and believed to help fight erectile dysfunction reagent used were of analytical reagent quality. among men but there was no scientific validation of Pomegranate extract was administered orally as a these claims. This prompted an investigation on the fine suspension in tween-80 (1%). Similarly, silde- aphrodisiac activity of pomegranate (Punica grana- nafil citrate and ethinyl oestradiol were suspended tum L.) fruit extract on sexual function in male rats in distilled water separately, using Tween-80 (1%) hence the present study. for oral use. Progesterone was dissolved in olive oil for subcutaneous injection. All the drug solutions MATERIALS AND METHODS were prepared just before administration. Experimental Animals Adverse effects Health adult male and female albino rats of Wistar All treated rats were observed at least once daily for strain of three months old weighing 250-350 g and any overt sign of toxicity (salivation, rhinorrhea, 200-250 g respectively were used in this study. The lachrymation, ptosis, writhing, convulsions and rats were obtained from the University of Eldoret tremors), stress (far erection and exophthalmia) in Kenya and transported to Egerton University. All and changes in behaviour such as spontaneous rats were housed singly in separate standard propyl- movement in the cage, climbing, cleaning of face. ene cages and maintained under standard laboratory In addition, food and water intake was noted. conditions (temperature 24-28°C, relative humid- ity 60-70%, and 12/12- h light-dark cycle). They Acute toxicity testing were fed with rat pellets (Unga Farm Care (E.A.) Determination of acute toxicity of the pome- Limited, Kenya) and water was provided ad libitum. granate fruit extract was done using the method Ethical approval was obtained from the Biosafety, described by Lorke (1983). Adult Wistar rats were Animal use and Ethics Committee of the Faculty of randomly divided into five groups each consisting veterinary medicine, University of Nairobi with the of five rats. The rats in group I, II, III and IV were reference number FVMBAUEC/2019/213. administered with the aid of an orogastric tube, single doses (1000, 2000, 4000 and 5000 mg/kg Extract preparation body weight respectively) of the Punica granatum Fresh Punica granatum fruits were obtained from fruit extract orally. The last group served as control a market in Njoro, Kenya. They were transported and was administered 1 ml distilled water orally. All in cartons to the laboratory in the Department of the animals used for the acute toxicity study were Biological Sciences, Egerton University, Kenya. observed continuously for behavioural changes Punica granatum fruits were washed and rinsed and mortality and for the initial 4 hours and then with water. They were dried under sunlight until intermittently for the next 6, 24, and 48 hours after water droplets completely evaporated. Using a dosing. The behaviour parameters observed were surgical blade the fruits were cut into two halves convulsion, hyperactivity, sedation, grooming, loss and the seeds scooped into a mixing bowl. Using of right reflex and increased respiration. The rats a blender, the seeds were blended until they were were kept under the same conditions throughout crushed and pulpy. Two pieces of cheesecloth were the study. placed on a flat surface, one on top of the other. The blended seeds were poured into the centre of the Mating behaviour test cheesecloth, then the ends of the cheesecloth were The effect of the Punica granatum extract on mating brought together to make a bag. The cheesecloth behaviour was studied according to the methods bag was held over a beaker and squeezed until juice described by Dewsbury and Davis (1970). Healthy stopped coming out. The seed casings remained in male rats were divided into fiveexperimental groups the cheesecloth, and the Punica granatum extract of 5 each. Group 1, the control group, received was collected in the container. The pomegranate 10 ml/kg of distilled water orally, once