Effects of Eurycoma longifolia jack on laevator ani muscle in both uncastrated and testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats

It has been reported that Eurycoma longifolia Jack commonly known as Tongka t Ali has gained notoreity as a symbol of man's ego and strength by the Mal aysian men because it increases male virility and sexual prowess during sex ual activities. As such, the effects of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of butanol, methanol, water and chloroform fractions of E. longifolia Jack were studied on the laevator ani muscle in both uncastrated and testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats after dosing them for 12 consecutive weeks. Res ults showed that 800 mg/kg of butanol, methanol, water and chloroform fract ions of E. longifolia Jack significantly increased (p<0.05) the leavator an i muscle to 58.56<plus/minus>1.22, 58.23 +/-0.31, 60.21 +/-0.86 and 62.3 +/ -0.98 mg/100 g body weight, respectively, when compared with the control (u ntreated) in the uncastrated intact male rats and 49.23 +/-0.82, 52.23 +/-0 .36, 50.21 +/-0.66 and 52.35 +/-0.58 mg/100 g body weight, respectively, wh en compared to control (untreated) in the testosterone-stimulated castrated intact male rats. Hence, the pro-androgenic effect as shown by this study further supported the traditional use of this plant as an aphrodisiac.