Abstract:
Introduction:Sexual dysfunction is a common problem with increase in prevalence and etiological factors, including degenerative diseases, increase in injuries and stress associatedwith industrialized lifestyles. Sexual dysfunction can be treated by both medical and surgical treatment modalities; however, plant-derived and herbal remedies continue to be a popular alternative for men and women seeking to improve their sexual life.Mucuna pruriens and Withania somnifera areextensively used herbs in the Indian system of Medicine-Ayurveda. The present study was conducted to assessthemale reproductive healthof methanolic extract of seeds of Mucuna pruriens & methanolicextract of roots of Withania somnifera onstress inducedmale albinoWisterrats. Material and methods:Laboratory-bred adult male albinoWisterrats weighing 150–220gm were used in the study. The acclimatized animals divided into six groups of six rats each. Group I rats were healthy controls. Group II rats were stress group. Group III standard group treated with stress & sildenafil citrate at a dose of 5mg/kg body weight subcutaneously. Group IV rats were treated with stress & Mucuna pruriens at a dose of 250mg/kg body weight orally Group V rats were treated with stress & Withania somnifera at a dose of 250mg/kg body weight orally, and Group VI rats were treated with stress Mucuna pruriens & withania somnifera.All the ratswere treated for 45 daysalong with stress except controls, tested for mating behavior, hematological, biochemical, stress and reproductive profile. Results:We found significantincrease in Cortisol (30.6%),MDA (36.4%), Testicular cholesterol (78.2%), LH (70.3%)&FSH (211.3%)significant decrease in NO (21.2%), Vit-C (34.3%), Vit-E (39.2%), Testosterone (58.8%), Sperm count (30.7%) & Sperm motility (22.5%)in stress group when comparing with control group. As after treatment with Mucuna pruriens seed extractand Withania somnifera root extractwe found significant decrease in Cortisol,MDA, Testicular cholesterol,LH&FSHandsignificantincrease in NO, Vit-C, Vit-E, Testosterone (14.8%), Sperm count (22.4%) & Sperm motility (10.3%). Conclusion:Beneficialeffect of theWithania somnifera & Mucuna pruriens corrugate with a standard pharmaceutical dose of sildenafil citrate in our study. Hence these phytochemical substances may be considered as aphrodisiac as well as beneficial to theoverallmale reproductivehealthlikesildenafil citrate, especially during
