Effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack in Maintaining Mating Behavior of Sexually Experienced Castrated Male Rats

  • Ang, Hooi-Hoon (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Science Malaysia) ;
  • Cheang, Hung-Seong (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Science Malaysia)
  • Published : 1999.09.01

Abstract

The effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack were studied in maintaining mating behavior of sexually experienced castrated male rats after dosing them with 500 mg/kg daily of E. longifolia Jack for 10 days prior to test and later continued for two weeks where the rats were then castrated. The similar dosage was then continued for 12 weeks post-castration. However, $400\;{\mu}g/day$ of testosterone was administered subcutaneously on the day of castration and lasted for 6 weeks post-castration but later raised to $800\;{\mu}g/day$ until 12 week post-castration. Tests were conducted weekly from 2-6 weeks and 8-12 weeks post-castration. Results showed that all the experimental male rats exhibited mating behavior before castration. Further results also indicated that E. longifolia Jack successfully maintained mating behavior but less than precastration level from 2-6 weeks and later increased from 8-12 weeks post-castration. Similarly, $400\;{\mu}g/day$ of testosterone was effective in maintaining mating behavior from 2-6 weeks post-castration. However, $800\;{\mu}g/day$ of testosterone managed to return the male rats to the precastration level with all male rats exhibited mating behavior from 8-12 weeks post-castration. Further results also indicated that testosterone significantly increased the penis weights (p < 0.05) as compared to the E. longifolia Jack. In conclusion, this study shows that E. longifolia Jack continued to maintain mating behavior of sexually experienced castrated male rats, giving further evidence of the folkuse of this plant as aphrodisiac.

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