COMPARATIVE APHRODISIAC ACTIVITY PROFILE OF MILK AND AQUEOUS DECOCTION OF ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS WILLD. IN MALE ALBINO RATS

Asparagus racemosus is classified in Ayurveda, the ancient Hindu system of medicine, as Vajikaran because of their positive in uence on sexual performance in humans. A traditional belief regarding mode of administration of Asparagus racemosus is still unrevealed. According to this conviction Ksheerpaka (milk decoction) of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is therapeutically more potent than any other form of dosage. In present study Aphrodisiac activity was tested to validate cited traditional claim regarding potentiality of milk decoction of A. racemosus. Milk and aqueous decoction of roots of A. racemosus, were studied for aphrodisiac activity in male albino rats and compared with untreated control group animals (total N = 60). The rats were evaluated for effect of treatments on anabolic effect. Six measures of sexual behavior were evaluated. 200 mg/ kg body weight of milk decoction showed a signi cant difference in the sexual behavior of animals as re ected by reduction of mount latency, ejaculation latency, post ejaculatory latency, intromission latency, and an increase of mount frequency. Penile erection (indicated by Penile Erection Index) was also considerably enhanced. Reduced hesitation time (an indicator of attraction towards female in treated rats) also indicated an improvement in sexual behavior of extract treated animals. The observed effects appear to be attributable to the testosterone-like effects of the milk decoction of A. racemosus. Nitric oxide based intervention may also be involved as observable from the improved penile erection. Present results provide evidence that the milk decoction of A. racemosus not only useful in overall sexual performance but may also be helpful in erectile dysfunction. Therefore, the traditional belief that Ksheerpaka (milk decoction) of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is more potent adaptogenic than any other form of dosage may be valid.