ABSTRACT
Background: Sarcocephalus latifolius, a plant of the Rubiaceae family, is found exclusively in tropical Africa, more particularly in sub-Saharan West Africa, stretching from Senegal to Zaire, but is also found as far east as Sudan (Sudan-Guinean zone). The leaves of this plant are used in traditional African medicine to treat numerous pathologies such as infertility. Aims/Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the effects of the aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius leaves on sexual parameters in male rats. Methods: The sexual parameters (latency of the mating position, latency of intromission, latency of ejaculation and mean copulation interval) were assessed by the classical method by administering distilled water, sildenafil citrate (reference molecule) called Viagra at the dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight and the aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius leaves at the dose of 1000 mg/kg of body weight per day for eight days to three batches of male rats respectively. These parameters were determined over a period of thirty minutes. Results: The results obtained show that the aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius leaves at a dose of 1000 mg/kg of body weight significantly (P < .001) decreases the latency time of mating position and the latency time of intromission, whereas this extract significantly (P < .001) increases the latency time of ejaculation and the average copulation interval. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of Sarcocephalus latifolius leaves has aphrodisiac properties which are due to sterols, flavonoids and saponosides.
ABSTRACT
Aims: The aqueous extract of cashew apple cakes, rich in molecules of pharmacological interest, could be used against many diseases. Thus, the aim of the present work is to evaluate its hepatoprotective activity in rats and mice. Methodology: Two batches of rats weighing between 200 and 300 grams, with five rats per batch, were pretreated for eleven days with the aqueous extract of cashew apple cakes at concentrations ranging from 150 to 300 mg.Kg-1 bw, then intoxicated with paracetamol at 2 g.Kg-1 bw, for three days. The blood of these rats was collected and submitted to biochemical analyses. Two batches of mice weighing between 20 and 30 grams, with five mice per batch, were pretreated with the same test substance at concentrations also ranging from 150 to 300 mg.Kg-1 bw, then intoxicated with paracetamol before receiving phenobarbital. Afterwards, their sleep time was evaluated. Results: In rats, paracetamol intoxication materialized by the increase in serum ALT activity ranging from 109±5.19 to 571±20.28 IU.L-1 and that of AST ranging from 144±5.77 to 428±14.19 IU.L-1. Similarly, direct bilirubin increased from 0 to 1.08± 0.58 mg.dl-1. These increases in transaminase activity and bilirubin levels were significantly decreased in rats pretreated with the aqueous extract of cashew apple cake. In mice, the phenobarbital test showed a 29.82 to 38.59% decrease in sleep time in mice pretreated with the aqueous extract of cashew apple cakes. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of cashew apple cakes influencing biochemical parameters such as ALT, AST, bilirubin and sleep time, could therefore be used in the prevention of liver diseases, in traditional medicine.