Evaluation of Pendiculation Activities in Male Rats after Oral Administration of Eurycoma longifolia Jack

Abstract

The effects of Eurycoma longifolia Jack were studied on the pendiculation (act of yawning and stretching) activities of male rats after dosing them with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight twice daily for 10 days prior to test. Results showed that E. longifoli produced a dose-dependent and also a significant increase in the mean number of yawns when compared with controls (p < 0.05) with 400 mg/kg of chloroform, methanol, water and butanol produced 1.20 ± 0.03, 1.21 ± 0.03, 1.23 ± 0.01 and 1.28 ± 0.01 whilst 800 mg/kg further increased to 1.70 ± 0.01, 1.63 ± 0.01, 1.63 ± 0.03 and 1.72 ± 0.03, respectively. Similarly, 400 mg/kg of chloroform, methanol, water and butanol exhibited mean stretching numbers of 1.41 ± 0.31, 1.37 ± 0.21, 1.35 ± 0.31, and 1.39 ± 0.02 whilst 800 mg/kg further enhanced to 1.44 ± 0.02, 1.40 ± 0.19, 1.38 ± 0.14 and 1.40 ± 0.03, respectively, during the 1 h observation period. Hence, the present study further supports the folk use of this plant as aphrodisiac.