Aqueous extract of Cyperus esculentus L. restores and boosts sexual competence in paroxetine-dysfunctioned male Wistar rats -

Objective: To investigate Cyperus esculentus aqueous extract on paroxetine-mediated sexual dysfunction in male Wistar rats. Methods: Sexually dysfunctioned (SD) rats were orally treated with PowMaxM [reference drug (7.14 mg/kg)] and the extract (500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight) once daily for 10 days, and their sexual behavioural parameters were monitored and computed. Relative testes-body weight and testicular function parameters were also evaluated at the end of the treatment period. Results: Dim light observation on the animals revealed respective proceptive and precopulatory behaviours by the primed female animals and the extract-treated male rats. Compared with SD rats, the extract-treated groups significantly restored and improved sexual behaviour and libido as evident from the remarkably increased frequencies of mount, intromission, ejaculation as well as the significantly reduced latencies of mount, intromission, ejaculation and post-ejaculation. The significantly reduced testicular activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and the concentrations of protein, cholesterol, glycogen, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and testes-body weight in the SD rats were also markedly increased following treatment with the extract. The effects elicited by the extract competed favourably with the reference drug used. The improved sexual competences exhibited by the male rats in this study are indicative of aphrodisiac attributes of the extract and could be adduced to the presence of phytonutrients as revealed by the GC-MS chromatogram. Conclusion: The data from this study suggest that C. esculentus is capable of restoring and boosting sexual competence and the probable mechanism is via enhancement of adaptogenic bioactive principles.