TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of the aphrodisiac potential of a chemically characterized aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica pulp
AU - Rai, Amita
AU - Das, Snehashis
AU - Chamallamudi, Mallikarjuna Rao
AU - Nandakumar, Krishnadas
AU - Shetty, Raghavendra
AU - Gill, Meghna
AU - Sumalatha, Suhani
AU - Devkar, Raviraj
AU - Gourishetti, Karthik
AU - Kumar, Nitesh
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier Ireland Ltd
PY - 2018/1/10
Y1 - 2018/1/10
N2 - Ethnopharmacological relevance Tamarindus indica is an ingredient in the traditional aphrodisiac formulations in Africa and India. It is also a widely used food ingredient in other tropical countries. Aim of the study The present study was aimed to evaluate the aphrodisiac potential and reproductive safety profile of aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica in male Wistar rats. Materials and methods The aqueous extract was prepared by maceration of pulp followed by reduction of volume in rotavapor under heat followed by freeze drying. The prepared extract was characterized for contents of total phenol, flavonoid, and saponin. It was also subjected to phytoconstituent analysis using GCMS. Further, the extract was evaluated for acute toxicity study. The aphrodisiac and reproductive toxicity potential were evaluated in animals after grouping them in four with six animals each namely, normal control, standard (Sildenafil citrate, 4 mg/kg p.o.) and extract of Tamarindus indica treated groups at two dose levels, 125 and 250 mg/kg p.o. The study was conducted for 54 days with daily once dosing of extract and standard. Equal number of females was grouped without treatment for evaluation of parameters of sexual desire (mount frequency and intromission frequency) and parameters of sexual arousal (mount latency and intromission latency). These parameters were evaluated on day 14, 28, 42 and 54. Animals were sacrificed on day 54, testes were removed and studied for histopathological changes. Results The extract showed 6.6 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of total phenol, 2.3 mg catechin equivalent/g of flavonoid and 11.6% saponin. Forty chemical constituents were identified by GCMS analysis. In acute toxicity study, the extract was found to be safe till 2000 mg/kg p.o. Efficacy study showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in parameters of sexual desire (mount frequency and intromission frequency) and parameters of sexual arousal on all observed days except mount frequency for 125 mg/kg on 42nd day and intromission frequency for both doses of tamarind compared to normal control. Improvements in these parameters were comparable to the standard drug. Histopathology study and sperm count suggested an increase in sperm production without any sign of toxicity in testis. Sperm motility significantly (p<0.05) increased in the treatment groups that received extract at 250 mg/kg compared to normal control. Conclusion Aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica possessed aphrodisiac activity together with spermatogenic potential.
AB - Ethnopharmacological relevance Tamarindus indica is an ingredient in the traditional aphrodisiac formulations in Africa and India. It is also a widely used food ingredient in other tropical countries. Aim of the study The present study was aimed to evaluate the aphrodisiac potential and reproductive safety profile of aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica in male Wistar rats. Materials and methods The aqueous extract was prepared by maceration of pulp followed by reduction of volume in rotavapor under heat followed by freeze drying. The prepared extract was characterized for contents of total phenol, flavonoid, and saponin. It was also subjected to phytoconstituent analysis using GCMS. Further, the extract was evaluated for acute toxicity study. The aphrodisiac and reproductive toxicity potential were evaluated in animals after grouping them in four with six animals each namely, normal control, standard (Sildenafil citrate, 4 mg/kg p.o.) and extract of Tamarindus indica treated groups at two dose levels, 125 and 250 mg/kg p.o. The study was conducted for 54 days with daily once dosing of extract and standard. Equal number of females was grouped without treatment for evaluation of parameters of sexual desire (mount frequency and intromission frequency) and parameters of sexual arousal (mount latency and intromission latency). These parameters were evaluated on day 14, 28, 42 and 54. Animals were sacrificed on day 54, testes were removed and studied for histopathological changes. Results The extract showed 6.6 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of total phenol, 2.3 mg catechin equivalent/g of flavonoid and 11.6% saponin. Forty chemical constituents were identified by GCMS analysis. In acute toxicity study, the extract was found to be safe till 2000 mg/kg p.o. Efficacy study showed significant (p<0.05) improvement in parameters of sexual desire (mount frequency and intromission frequency) and parameters of sexual arousal on all observed days except mount frequency for 125 mg/kg on 42nd day and intromission frequency for both doses of tamarind compared to normal control. Improvements in these parameters were comparable to the standard drug. Histopathology study and sperm count suggested an increase in sperm production without any sign of toxicity in testis. Sperm motility significantly (p<0.05) increased in the treatment groups that received extract at 250 mg/kg compared to normal control. Conclusion Aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica possessed aphrodisiac activity together with spermatogenic potential.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jep.2017.08.016
DO - 10.1016/j.jep.2017.08.016
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85028757919
SN - 0378-8741
VL - 210
SP - 118
EP - 124
JO - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
JF - Journal of Ethnopharmacology
ER -