Abstract
Objectives.
To determine the effect of oral administration of a purified lipidic extract from
Lepidium meyenii (MacaPure M-01 and M-02) on the number of complete intromissions and mating in normal
mice, and on the latent period of erection (LPE) in rats with erectile dysfunction.
Methods.
Mice and rats were randomly divided into several experimental and control groups.
A 10% ethanol suspension of M-01 and M-02 was orally administered for 22 days to the
experimental groups according to the dosage specified by the experimental design.
On day 22, 30 minutes after the dose was administered to the male mice, 2 virgin female
mice were placed with 1 male mouse. The number of complete intromissions of each male
mouse in 3 hours was recorded. In an assessment of 1 day of mating, each male mouse
was cohabited with 5 estrous female mice overnight. The number of sperm-positive females
was recorded. The LPE was measured to assess the sexual function in rats with erectile
dysfunction. By using a YSD-4G multifunction instrument, an electric pulse at 20 V
was applied to stimulate the rat’s penis, and the duration from the start of the stimulus
to full erection was measured in seconds as the LPE.
Results.
In the normal male mice, the number of complete intromissions during the 3-hour period
was 16.33 ± 1.78, 46.67 ± 2.39, and 67.01 ± 2.55 for the control group, M-01 group,
and M-02 group, respectively. In the assessment of mating, the number of sperm-positive
females increased from 0.6 ± 0.7 in the control group to 1.5 ± 0.5 in the M-01 experimental
group. The LPE of male rats with erectile dysfunction was 112 ± 13 seconds with a
regular diet (control group). The oral administration of M-01 at a dose of 180 or
1800 mg/kg body weight and M-02 at a dose of 45, 180, or 1800 mg/kg body weight reduced
the LPE to 54 ± 12 seconds, 54 ± 13 seconds, 71 ± 12 seconds, 73 ± 12 seconds, and
41 ± 13 seconds, respectively. The LPE of the surgical rats treated with M-01 at the
lowest dose (45 mg/kg) was 121 ± 12 seconds; thus, the change was not significant.
Conclusions.
Oral administration of M-01 and M-02 enhanced the sexual function of the mice and
rats, as evidenced by an increase in the number of complete intromissions and the
number of sperm-positive females in normal mice, and a decrease in the LPE in male
rats with erectile dysfunction. The present study reveals for the first time an aphrodisiac
activity of L. meyenii, an Andean Mountain herb.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
October 20,
1999
Received in revised form:
October 20,
1999
Received:
July 14,
1999
Identification
Copyright
© 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
