Aphrodisiac properties of Montanoa tomentosa aqueous crude extract in male rats

• Published in: Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior biochemistry and behavior, 2004-05, Vol.78 (1), p.129-134
• Main Authors: Carro-Juárez, M, Cervantes, E, Cervantes-Méndez, M, Rodrı́guez-Manzo, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aphrodisiacs - isolation & purification; Aphrodisiacs - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Flowers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Male; Male rat sexual behavior; Medical sciences; Mexican plant; Montanoa; Montanoa tomentosa; Neuropharmacology; Noncopulators; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sexual arousal; Sexual Behavior, Animal - drug effects; Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology; Sexual stimulant; Traditional remedy; Water - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0091-3057; 1873-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2004.03.001

Cihuapatli, the Mexican zoapatle ( Montanoa tomentosa) has an extensive ethnomedical history of use as a traditional remedy for reproductive impairments. During the study of the ejaculatory function in rats and by testing a set of Mexican plants with medicinal properties, we observed that crude extracts of M. tomentosa facilitated ejaculation. Thus, we decided to analyze the possibility that this plant possessed sexual stimulant properties. To that aim, copulatory behavior of sexually active male rats receiving doses of 38, 75 and 150 mg/kg of the aqueous crude extract of M. tomentosa, as it is prepared in traditional medicine, was assessed. In addition, we evaluated the effect of the 75-mg/kg dose of the extract on males with anesthetization of the genital area and on sexual behavior of sexually inactive male rats (noncopulators). Results showed that acute oral administration of crude extracts of M. tomentosa facilitates expression of sexual behavior in sexually active male rats, significantly increases mounting behavior in genitally anesthetized animals and induces the expression of sexual behavior in noncopulating males. Altogether, these data reveal a facilitatory action of this extract on sexual activity and particularly on sexual arousal. Present findings provide experimental evidence that the crude extract preparation of M. tomentosa, used as a traditional remedy, possesses aphrodisiac properties.