Aphrodisiac activity of ethanol extract and fractions of Fadogia cienkowskii Shweinf. Rubiaceae roots in albino rats

Fadogia cienkowskii is a shrub whose roots are used in many communities of Northern Nigeria to improve sexual performance; however, there is no scientific study to verify this claim. This study determined the effect of 70% ethanol extract of F. cienkowskii roots and its fractions (ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and residual ethanol) on mating behaviour (mounting, intromission and ejaculation) and serum testosterone concentration of male albino rats. Five groups of rats each containing 6 rats were treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of the crude ethanol extract, while Sildenafil and distilled water were administered to the control groups. Another set of 6 groups of rats were also used in the study and were treated with 12.5 and 25 mg/kg of the ethyl acetate, n-butanol and residual ethanol fractions, respectively. The crude extract and fractions significantly increased mount, intromission and ejaculation frequencies. The copulation efficiency also increased significantly – indicative of the plant’s aphrodisiac potential. Significant increase of testosterone in serum of extract treated rats was also observed, which is a further credence to the plant’s aphrodisiac potential. It was thus concluded that the 70% ethanol root extract of F. cienkowskii and its fractions have aphrodisiac activity with the n-butanol and residual ethanol fractions being more active. Key words: Fadogia cienkowskii extract, aphrodisiac activity, rats