The influence of eurycoma longifolia and polyalthia bullata on body, testes and prostate weight

Eurycoma longifolia or 'Tongkat Ali' is a plant that had been proven as an aphrodisiac plant which contain compounds such as quassinoids and eurycomanone that can improve sexual performance to those who consume its extract. As for Polyalthia bullata, people consume it to get the aphrodisiac effects because of its name 'Tongkat Ali Hitam' that suggest it has the same properties as E. longifolia. However, there is no scientific study that can prove this claim. Therefore, in this study, the effects of these two plants towards male reproductive organs were determined by measuring adult male SD rats' body, testes and prostate weight. The claim of P. bullata as an aphrodisiac plant also can be proved by comparing the effects with E. longifolia. This study was conducted by randomly grouping 18 male SD rats into three groups which were control, E. longifolia and P. bullata group (n=6). The rats were treated by force feeding them with water, 200 mg/kg water extract of E. longifolia and P. bullata. The treatment was done once daily for 14 days. Body weight was measured every day. On day 15th, the rats were dissected and reproductive organs (testes and prostate) were obtained and weighed. Body, testes and prostate weights were analysed using SPSS software version 21.0. Based on the analysis, E. longifolia group shows significantly decrease in body weight when compared with control group, p value=0.004. E. longifolia group also cause a decrease in testes while increase prostate weight although the changes are not significant. These results are the same as for P. bullata. In conclusion, both plants are proven to give effects towards male reproductive organs and this suggests that P. bullata has the same aphrodisiac properties as E. longifolia. However, further study need to be done to confirm these findings.