Effect of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Flesh Extract on Sexual Behavior of Male Rats

Abstract

The effects of red watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) flesh extract on male sexual behavior as well as its adverse effects were investigated using animal models. The suspension of the flesh extract was administered orally at doses of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg to different groups of male rats (n = 5) daily for 22 days. The receptive female rats were prepared by hormonal treatment. The mating behavior was investigated and compared with the standard reference drug, sildenafil citrate. The adverse effects of the plant extract were also evaluated by observing at least once daily for any sign of toxicity, water and food intake, stress and changes in behavior. The animal procedures were conducted in accordance with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Thailand. The results indicated that oral administration of watermelon flesh extract caused a significant increase in Mounting Frequency, Intromission Frequency and Ejaculatory Latency in first and second series and caused a significant decrease in the Mounting Latency and Intromission Latency (P<0.05). The extract at a dose of 1000 mg/kg did not produce clinical signs of toxicity or mortality in any of animals during the treatment duration. The weight of body and reproductive organs showed no significant difference in the flesh extract groups compared to the control group (P>0.05). Based on the aphrodisiac property of watermelon in animal models observed in this present study, this plant may be useful for men with erectile dysfunction. In addition, watermelon flesh extract did not produce undesirable effects on male rats, indicating that its short-term use is apparently safe. Thus, our findings support the use of watermelon flesh for increasing potency in males.

Aphrodisiac Activity of Nutraceuticals

“…Allium cepa contains selenium, copper and zinc whereas Moringa oleifera contains lavonoids, anthraquinone glycosides, tannic acid, carotene and glucose which can be responsible for aphrodisiac activity(activity (Allouh et al, 2014). Water melon contains arginine and citralline, dragon fruit which contains β-sitosteron and α-β-amyrin and celery contains valerophenone, 1-dodecanol, 9-octadecanonic acid and methyl ester helps to improve aphrodisiac activity (Munglue et al, 2014;Hardani et al, 2015;Kanedi, 2016).…”

“…The results showed that the mount frequency, intromission frequency and ejaculation latency 1 (ejaculation latency in irst series) has increased for the highest concentration of dose mount latency, intromission latency, ejaculation latency and ejaculation interval was increased at the lowest concentration. There was a negative results for the increase in body weight and reproductive organ weight (Munglue et al, 2014) .…”

Uji Aktivitas Afrodisiaka Infusa Kulit Buah Semangka (Citrullus lanatus)

“…Semangka merupakan buah yang mengandung senyawa arginin dan sitrulin. Kandungan sitrulin dalam buah semangka dikenal luas berperan penting dalam meningkatkan produksi nitric oxyde (NO) sehingga menyebabkan terjadinya ereksi (Munglue et al, 2014). Nitric oxide berdifusi ke dalam otot polos sel vaskular dalam corpus cavernosum penis, sehingga menstimulasi pelepasan guanylyl cyclase dan meningkatkan cyclic guanosine mono phosphate (cGMP).…”

“…Berdasarkan penelitian Munglue et al (2014) dosis efektif buah semangka untuk tikus adalah 1000 mg/kgBB maka variasi dosis pada penelitian ini adalah 500, 1000, dan 2000 mg/kgBB. Dosis pemberian infusa dihitung berdasarkan variasi dosis tersebut.…”

“…Alkaloid merupakan senyawa basa organik yang banyak tersedia dalam bentuk garam pada tanaman sehingga larut dalam pelarut air (Agoes, 2009). Kulit buah semangka juga mengandung asam amino sitrulina yang memiliki efek afrodisiaka (Munglue et al, 2014). Dikutip dari PubChem (2020), sitrulina merupakan senyawa polar sehingga cocok dibuat bentuk sediaan infusa dengan menggunakan pelarut air.…”