Abstract:
Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability of a man to attain and sustain adequate erection for satisfactory coitus. Herbal medicines are widely promoted as remedies for ED. The safety profile of these products are largely unknown. In this study, five products of herbal origin, sold as aphrodisiacs in pharmacies within the Greater Accra region, are screened for activity across three functional domains: autonomic, neuromuscular/motor, and CNS using the modified Irwin test.
Method: Groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats (150 - 200 g, n = 5) were used. Each candidate herbal product was administered p.o. at three dose levels to different groups of rats. Chlorpromazine (30 mg/Kg, p. o) and caffeine (25 mg/Kg, p. o.) were used as positive controls. The vehicle-treated controls were given normal saline (1 ml/kg, p.o.). Following drug administration, animals were monitored for changes in behaviours indicating alterations in autonomic, neuromuscular/motor, and CNS activity at 0-15 mins, 30 mins, 1 hr., 2 hr., 4 hr., 8 hr., 24 hr. and 48 hr. Hematological, biochemical, and histopathological analyses were performed on blood and isolated organs of the experimental animals 14 days’ post drug administration.
Results: No mortality was recorded after 48 h in all groups. Except for sedation, there were no clinical signs of interference with any system such as autonomic, CNS and motor activity for all the five herbal aphrodisiac products. Products 1, 2 and 4 caused significant (p<0.05) increases in the weights of the liver, heart, and spleen at 1200, 150 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. respectively. Products 1 and 2 caused elevated levels of only ALP at low doses while higher doses produced no change in enzyme levels. From the biochemical indices, there was therefore no definite evidence of toxicity from the Products to the liver. Haematological parameters of animals were not adversely affected after 14 days of administration of the Products. Histopathological studies did not also provide any equivocal evidence of toxicity to any organ.
Conclusion: The extracts produced no evidence of significant toxicity to major organs of the rats. Transient behavioural alterations, lasting less than 48 hours, suggesting involvement of peripheral and central nervous systems were observed. Caution should be exercised in the use of these Products while further tests are carried out to elucidate the safety profile of the commercial herbal aphrodisiacs.
