Abstract
Background:
Sexual dysfunction is one of the major factors associated with marital failure and poor quality of life. One of the most
commonly used herbs in traditional medicine is Garcinia kola, also known as bitter kola, which is said to have aphrodisiac
properties. Garcinia kola, also known as bitter kola, is one of the herbs widely used in traditional medicine with controversial
effects. The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of ethanolic extract of seeds of Garcinia kola on sexual
behavior, hypothalamic – pituitary – gonadal axis and reproductive morphology in adult Wistar rats.
Methods:
Prospective experimental study was done with 70 rats of Wistar strain (35 females and 35 males) were divided into
treatment and control groups. Seed extract doses ranged from 200 to 600 mg/kg and sildenafil and estrogen/progesterone
were used as standard controls. Phytochemical Screening, LD₅₀ determination, hormonal assays (LH, FSH, testosterone),
sexual behavior tests (copulatory arenas and pacing chambers), and histological examination of the gonads and
hypothalamus were performed. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data.