Planta Med 2013; 79 - PE8
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1348576

Butea Frondosa, A Rho Kinase 2 and Phosphodiesterase 5 Enzyme Inhibitor, Increases Sexual Function In Young And Aged Rats

S Kumar Goswami 1, M Naseeruddin Inamdar 1, S Dethe 2, A Agarwal 2
  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bangalore, India-560027
  • 2Department of Bioassay, Natural Remedies Private Limited, Bangalore, India-560100

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of Butea frondosa extract, ROCK-II and PDE5 inhibitor, on the sexual behavior of young (5 months) and aged (24 months) male Wistar rats and compare with sildenafil, known for management of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Dosing with 100 mg/kg body weight of the extract for 28 days increased sexual behavior of young rats significantly (p < 0.05) that was evident from decrease in mount latency, intromission latency and post ejaculatory interval along with an increase in mount frequency, intromission frequency and ejaculation latency. Sexual function, which was found to have reduced in the aged rats, increased significantly (p < 0.05) upon treatment with extract. The treatment also increased smooth muscle level and decreased collagen level in the penile tissue of rats when compared with control group receiving vehicle.

Butea frondosa extract increases sexual function in young as well as aged rats and might be helpful in the management of ED in human.

The research was supported by grant (Z.18017/187/CCS/R&D/KR-03/2009 – 10-NMPB) from National Medicinal Plants Board, New Delhi, India.