Aqueous root extract of Psidium guajava exhibits dependent effects on aphrodisiac indices, reproductive hormones and spermatogenesis of male Wistar rats

In ethnomedicine, different parts of Psidium guajava have been used as herbal remedies for the treatment and management of various ailments.This study was carried out to determine the dose and duration dependent effects of the administration of aqueous root extract of Psidium guajava on the sexual behaviour, serum concentrations of some reproductive hormones and testes of the experimental rats.Wistar albino rats of both sexes were obtained for the study, where forty (40) male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups of ten rats each.Rats in group 1 (control) were administered 1 mL/kg body weight distilled water, while those in groups 2, 3, and 4 were given 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight, respectively, of aqueous extract of Psidium guajava root in the same volume.Female albino rats were made receptive by hormonal treatment.Oral administration of Psidium guajava root extract at the doses and duration evaluated resulted in increased mount, intromission, and ejaculation frequencies (p < 0.05).The latencies of mount and intromission were significantly decreased and ejaculation latency was prolonged.Administration of the extract also reduced the post-ejaculatory interval significantly.The extract increased the computed male sexual behavioural parameters as well as serum hormone concentrations, compared with the distilled water control.Photomicrograph of the testes revealed focal spermatogenic proliferation in the area biopsied in the treated groups (with low doses).The administration of aqueous root extract of Psidium guajava to male Wistar rats at increasing doses and time duration may enhance their fertility and calls for caution in the prolonged use of the plant in folk medicine.