In vivo aphrodisiac efficacy of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaf and root bark of Citropsis articulata in male Wistar rats

Abstract

Background The African cherry orange tree Citropsis articulata Swingle & Kellerman (family Rutaceae) is traditionally used to manage erectile dysfunction. This study aimed to determine the aphrodisiac activity of C. articulata leaves and root bark in male Wistar rats. Methods Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of leaves and root bark were prepared via decoction and soxhlation, respectively. Extracts were administered to the animals at three dose levels, i.e., 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg. Six male animals (aged 8–12 weeks, weighing 140–200 g) were used in each of the groups. Three animals per group (group B), unlike those immediately sacrificed at the end of 28 days (group A), were left for an extra 14 days without dosing to look out for delayed or sustained efficacy signs. Male sexual behavior, including attraction towards the female, penile erection, mount frequency, and mount latency, was monitored on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42. At the end of both 28 days and the extra 14 days, the animals were humanely sacrificed via anesthesia with halothane, and their blood was collected for testosterone level analysis, while the sexual organs harvested were assessed grossly and histologically. Results Citropsis articulata root bark and leaves increased the attraction towards the female, penile erection, and mount frequency while lowering the mount latency. The plant extracts also increased testosterone levels after 28 days of daily extract administration but greatly lowered the testosterone levels in the animals that were left for an extra 14 days without dosing. Even histologically, there was the first evidence of very active spermatogenesis, which disappeared when the administration of the extract ceased. The administration of C. articulata leaf decoction at a dose of 500 mg/kg significantly increased the testosterone level (14.50 ± 2.53 ng/ml) compared with that of the positive control (4.00 ± 2.70 ng/ml), with a p-value of 0.021 (confidence interval: -19.45 to -1.533). Conclusion This study revealed that both the root bark and leaf of Citropsis articulata have aphrodisiac efficacy in male Wistar rats in vitro.