Corynanthe pachyceras K. Schum (Rubiaceae) boosts sexual behavior, improves sexual hormones/semen quality and, modulates oxidative stress in a rat model of age-induced hypogonadism: an experimental study.

Background: Hypogonadism refers to a condition where the body does not produce enough testosterone. It is an important cause of male sexual dysfunctions and infertility. Corynanthe pachyceras is a medicinal plant with a claimed powerful aphrodisiac potential.

Aim: This study investigated the capacities of C. pachyceras in boosting the sexual performance of age-related hypogonadic rat.

Methods: Thirty-six aged (17-19-months-old) male Wistar rats (n = 6/group) were randomly distributed into six groups and orally treated with either distilled water (10 mg/kg), Viagra (5 mg/kg), aqueous or ethanolic extracts of C. pachyceras (8 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) within two weeks. The copulatory activity was tested on days 0, 7, and 14 using receptive females. Body and sex organ weights, sperm parameters, sex hormones, oxidative stress markers, and penile nitric oxide (NO) were measured.

Outcomes: The main outcome of this work is the confirmed efficacy of C. pachyceras in improving the reproductive performance of age-related hypogonadic rats.

Results: The copulatory activity of the untreated hypogonadic aged rats (distilled water group) was low and marked by a significant increase in the sexual motivation (latencies and post-ejaculatory interval) and a decrease in the sexual performance (frequencies). Malondialdehyde level was increased, whereas the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione were decreased. Treatment of aged rats with the aqueous or ethanolic extracts of C. pachyceras brought important changes, shown by the significant decrease in the motivation parameters and the increase in the ejaculation frequency. Sperm count and motility (P < .01-.001), LH (P < .01), FSH (P < .01-.001), testosterone (P < .01), and NO (P < .05) levels that were altered in the untreated aged rats were increased in those receiving C. pachyceras extracts. The plant extracts also significantly (P < .05-.01) improved the antioxidant status by reducing the level of MDA and increasing that of SOD (P < .05-.01) and glutathione.

Clinical translation: C. pachyceras may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for improving the sexual health of androgen-deficient subjects such as aged men.

Strengths and limitations: C. pachyceras has androgenic, aphrodisiac, and antioxidant properties. However, its molecular mechanism is not yet determined. A well-structured clinical study needs also to be carried to confirm the effects of C. pachyceras on humans.

Conclusion: Present findings showed that C. pachyceras can boost the reproductive conditions of age-induced hypogonadism rats through its androgenic, aphrodisiac, and antioxidant potentials. However, further studies are still needed to gain more medical insight into this plant.