Tricholepis glaberrima DC (Compositae) is popularly known as 'brahmadandi' in Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine. Aerial parts of this plant are used as a nervine tonic, and its infusion was prescribed in seminal debility and impotence. In the current study, we have investigated the effect of methanol extract of the aerial parts in sexually active male rats. In addition, the effect of the extract on the testicular histology and on the activity of two antioxidant enzymes, viz. superoxide dismutase and catalase in testicular homogenate were determined. Administration of the methanol extract at 200 mg=kg body weight for 28 days altered significantly the various components of the sexual behavior study. The extract increased significantly mounting latency (ML) and intromission latency (IL) with a significant reduction in mounting frequency (MF), intromission frequency (IF), and post-ejaculatory interval (PEI). Examination of the testicular histology revealed that the extract favors spermatogenesis by enhancing the proliferation of the seminiferous epithelium. Further, a significant increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase was observed in rats treated with methanol extract of T. glaberrima. Therefore, the current findings provide experimental evidence that the extract of T. glaberrima possesses aphrodisiac properties.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of terpenoidal fraction prepared from the petroleum ether extract of the roots of Echinops echinatus on male reproductive parameters. The studies were carried out at two different dose levels of 30 and 60 mg/kg body weight using Wistar albino rats. Treatment with terpenoidal fraction showed a decrease in the relative weight of the reproductive organs without affecting the final body weight of the animals, and a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in serum testosterone levels and cauda epididymal sperm concentration compared with animals in the control group. Histology of the testis in the control group showed normal features with successive stages of transformation of the seminiferous epithelium into spermatozoa, whereas an acute treatment with two different doses of terpenoid fraction showed a significant reduction (P < 0.01) in the seminiferous tubular diameter and germinal epithelial cell thickness. Thus, it was observed that the acute treatment with terpenoid fraction of the E. echinatus roots to male rats exhibits antifertility properties by interfering with the reproductive function of the testis. The fraction was standardised in terms of its marker (lupeol) content using highperformance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC).

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