In vivo aphrodisiac efficacy of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaf and root bark of Citropsis articulata (Willd. ex Spreng.) Swingle & M. Kellerm. in male Wistar rats
| dc.contributor.author | Amaza, Ronald Anyase | |
| dc.contributor.author | Amutuhaire, Treasure Angie | |
| dc.contributor.author | Tusiimire, Jonans | |
| dc.contributor.author | Amito, Vivian Sharon | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ajayi, Clement Olusoji | |
| dc.contributor.author | Angupale, Jimmy Ronald | |
| dc.contributor.author | Abdelgadir, Abdelgadir Alamin | |
| dc.contributor.author | Ogwang, Patrick Engeu | |
| dc.contributor.author | Anywar, Godwin | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-25T09:28:15Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-25T09:28:15Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-11-13 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Ethnopharmacological relevance: Citropsis articulata (Willd. ex Spreng.) Swingle & M.Kellerm (Rutaceae), commonly known as the African cherry orange, is traditionally used to enhance male sexual performance and manage erectile dysfunction in various African communities. Aim of the study: This study aimed to evaluate the aphrodisiac efficacy of the aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of C. articulata leaf and root bark in male Wistar rats. Materials and methods: Aqueous extracts (decoctions) were prepared by boiling 500 g of dried herbal powder in 4 L of distilled water for 60 min. Hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained by Soxhlet extraction, where 500 g of the powder was continuously percolated with 2.5 L of 70 % ethanol. Male Wistar rats (n = 6 per group) were administered the extracts at doses of 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg daily for 28 days. Control groups included two negative controls (distilled water and 10% DMSO + 0.1% gum arabic) and a positive control (sildenafil citrate, 5 mg/kg). Sexual behaviour parameters—including attraction to the female, penile erection, mount frequency, and mount latency—were assessed on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. At day 28, three animals per group were sacrificed for evaluation of testosterone levels, sexual organ weights, and histological analysis. The remaining three animals in each group were observed without further dosing for an additional 14 days, with behavioural assessments on days 35 and 42, before being sacrificed for post-treatment evaluation of sustained or delayed effects. Results: Both the root bark and leaf extracts of C. articulata significantly enhanced attraction towards the female, penile erection, and mount frequency, while reducing mount latency in male Wistar rats. The leaf extracts exhibited a slightly stronger aphrodisiac effect compared to the root bark, especially at the 500 mg/kg dose, where the leaf decoction produced a greater increase in testosterone levels and more pronounced improvements in sexual behaviour. Notably, administration of the leaf decoction at 500 mg/kg resulted in a significantly higher testosterone level (14.50 ± 2.53 ng/ml) compared to the positive control (sildenafil citrate, 4.00 ± 2.70 ng/ml; p = 0.021, 95 % CI: −19.45 to −1.533). After 28 days of treatment, testosterone levels were elevated across all extract-treated groups but declined markedly in animals monitored for an additional 14 days without dosing. Histological analysis showed active spermatogenesis during treatment, which diminished following cessation of extract administration. Conclusion: This study revealed that both the root bark and leaf of C. articulata have aphrodisiac efficacy in male Wistar rats in vivo. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Pharm-Biotechnology and Traditional Medicine Centre, Mbarara University of Science and Technology | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Amaza, R. A., Amutuhaire, T. A., Tusiimire, J., Amito, V. S., Ajayi, C. O., Angupale, J. R., Abdelgadir, A. A., Ogwang, P. E., & Anywar, G. (2025). In vivo aphrodisiac efficacy of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaf and root bark of Citropsis articulata (Willd. ex Spreng.) Swingle & M.Kellerm. in male Wistar rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 357, 120902. | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 1872-7573 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dir.muni.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12260/807 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Elsevier | |
| dc.subject | C. articulata | |
| dc.subject | Aphrodisiac efficacy | |
| dc.subject | Testosterone | |
| dc.subject | Male sexual function | |
| dc.subject | Mount frequency | |
| dc.title | In vivo aphrodisiac efficacy of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaf and root bark of Citropsis articulata (Willd. ex Spreng.) Swingle & M. Kellerm. in male Wistar rats | |
| dc.type | Article |