Improvement of sexual behavior and ejaculatory parameters by the methanolic extract of Guibourtia tessmannii (Caesalpiniaceae) in high-fat-diet-fed sexually sluggish male rats

Background: Guibourtia tessmannii (GT) (Caesalpiniaceae) is claimed as a plant having aphrodisiac property as per the African traditional medicine. Objective: This study evaluated the effects of the methanolic extract of GT on sexual behavior and fictive ejaculation in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced sexually sluggish male rats. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats fed either on HFD or standard diet (SD) for 16 weeks were monitored for their growth rate and Lee index. At the end of this period, three consecutive copulatory tests were conducted and HFD-induced sexually sluggish rats were selected. Besides Group 1 as time control (SD), drugs or vehicle (veh) were administered orally everyday into three groups of rats as Group 2: HFD (veh), Group 3: HFD + GT (220 mg/kg), and Group 4: HFD + sildenafil citrate (5 mg/kg). Their copulatory activities were tested on day 1, 7, 14, and 21 and the electromyography of bulbospongiosus muscles was assessed for fictive ejaculation on day 22. Results: Treatment with the methanolic extract of GT facilitated sexual behavior by decreasing (P < 0.001) ejaculatory latency within 14 days of treatment that sustained till day 21 compared to the control (HFD) and improving sex drive scores (P < 0.01). The fictive ejaculation parameters were more pronounced in HFD + GT group compared with the HFD group. For instance, after urethral stimulation, the contraction of the bulbospongiosus muscles was significantly increased in HFD + GT group (12.26 ± 7.25) compared to the control group (6.75 ± 0.25). Conclusion: These findings provide robust evidence for the GT treatment in the management of sexual deficits pertaining to obesity.