In/ex copula ejaculatory activities of Aframomum melegueta (Zingiberaceae) in sexually experienced male rats

CaHReF 2016, Yaoundé Conges hall, 23 – 26 August 2016 , PP25

Animal physiology and phytopharmacology Laboratory, University of Dschang

A growing number of international studies on sexual health issues suggest that many men worldwide have sexual health problems mainly centered in the ejaculatory function and which can be solve by the use of medicinal plants with aphrodisiac properties. Seeds of Aframomum melegueta are used in traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and aphrodisiac.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the seeds of Aframomum melegueta on ex/in copula ejaculatory parameters in sexually experienced male rats.

For the in copula experiment, male rats were orally treated with aqueous and methanolic extracts (20 and 100mg/kg) of the seeds of Aframomum melegueta for 7 or 14 days. On days 0, 7 and 14 of treatment, each male was paired with a receptive estrus female rat and the ejaculatory latency and post-ejaculatory interval were measured. Bromocriptine served as control. For the ex-copula experiment, electromyography of the bulbospongiosus muscles and seminal vesicle pressure were recorded in urethane anaesthetized and spinal cord transected rats after urethral and penile stimulations, intravenous injection of dopamine (0.1 µM/kg), saline solution (1 ml/kg) and aqueous and methanolic extracts of Aframomum melegueta (2.5; 5; 10 and 20 mg/kg). Further, the pro-ejaculatory effect of dopamine was monitored in orally pre-treated rats with plant extracts (20 and 100 mg/kg) for 7 or 14 days.
Results: Oral treatment of rats with aqueous and methanolic extracts of Aframomum melegueta decreased (p<0.05-0.01) the ejaculatory latency and post-ejaculatory interval after 14 days of treatment. In spinal rats, urethral and tactile stimulations, intravenous administration of dopamine (0.1µM/kg) and Aframomum melegueta extracts (2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) triggered fictive ejaculation characterized by the rhythmic contraction of the bulbospongiosus muscles and increased of the seminal vesicle pressure. In animals orally pre-treated with Aframomum melegueta extracts, the pro-ejaculatory effects of dopamine was significantly increased (p<0.05-0.001).

 Present findings demonstrate that Aframomum melegueta possesses pro-ejaculatory effect which may be due to the presence of flavonoids and alkaloids revealed in this plant and further support its aphrodisiac potentials

Aframomum melegueta, ejaculation, spinal cord, rat.