APHRODISIAC AND SPERMATOGENIC POTENTIAL OF UNSAPONIFIABLE FRACTION FROM SEEDS OF HYGROPHILA SPINOSA T. ANDER IN RATS

Seeds of Hygrophila spinosa T. Ander (Acanthaceae) are traditionally used as an aphrodisiac and spermatogenic in the Indian System of Medicine. Studies were planned to evaluate the effect of unsaponifiable (sterol-enriched) fraction from chloroform extract, of the seeds of Hygrophila spinosa as spermatogenic and as aphrodisiac in-vivo, using rats as experimental animals. An unsaponifiable fraction was evaluated for its ability to stimulate testosterone production using isolated rat leydig cells in-vitro. The fraction was administered for 28 days to animals. At the end of the study period, biochemical evaluation of selected parameters, determining the increase in weight of reproductive organs, histological studies of testes, and sexual behavioral studies were performed as evaluation parameters. Increased serum cholesterol and testosterone level, increased weights of reproductive organs, and marked improvement in testes histo-architecture of rats suggested the spermatogenic potential of the fraction. Mounting behavior of test animals improved while the latency period was decreased, as observed in behavioral studies. Stimulation to leydig cells and increased serum testosterone level in-vivo might be responsible for the higher number of spermatozoa in the testicular lumen as seen in testicular histology as well as increased libido as observed in behavioral studies.