Effects of eurycoma longifolia and polyalthia bullata on body, testes, prostate glands weight of sprague-dawley rats

Eurycoma longifolia and Polyalthia bullata are aphrodisiac plants that can arouse sexual desire and enhance sexual performance. Although both EL and PB are widely used as aphrodisiac, the similarity and difference between these plants in term of aphrodisiac property are still unknown The aim of the present study was to determine the similarity and difference of EL and PB on testes, prostate glands and body weight of Sprague-Dawley rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150-250g were divided into three groups (n=6) where control group received purified water, EL group and PB group received 400 mg/kg of treatment respectively. The daily body weight of each rat was recorded during the treatment period. After fourteen days of treatment, all rats were sacrificed and dissected to obtain the desired reproductive organs. Weights of testes and prostate glands were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results showed that the body weight of all the experimental groups were increased throughout the treatment period. EL 400 mg/kg group showed the highest increment, followed by PB 400 mg/kg group and control group. There was a significant increase in mean percentage changes of body weight of EL 400 mg/kg compared to control group (P=0.003) while a significant decrease in PB 400 mg/kg group compared to control group (P=0.046). A significant difference were observed for right testes between all groups (P=0.028) and right testes between control group and EL 400 mg/kg (P=0.026). No significant differences were reported between control group and EL 400mg/kg for left testes (P=0.088) as well as between control group and PB 400mg/kg for left testes (P=0.951) and right testes (P=0.661). Similarly, no significant differences for mean prostate glands weight in both EL 400 mg/kg and PB 400 mg/kg compared to control group with (P=0.374) and (P=0.137) respectively. In conclusion, the effects of EL 400 mg/kg and PB 400 mg/kg on body weight and reproductive organs weight vary. Further study needs to be conducted in future to determine which plants will give the most beneficial effects on testes, prostate glands and body weight.