Objective:To investigate the aphrodisiac potential of polyherbal formulations prepared from different parts of Tribulus terrestris, Curculigo orchioides, Allium tuberosum, Cucurbita pepo, Elephant creeper, Mucuna pruriens, and Terminalia catappa in Albino rats in specified ratio as suspension.Materials and Methods:The different concentrations of prepared polyherbal formulations i.e. 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg and sildenafil citrate as standard (5 mg/kg) and vehicle (control) were administered orally to rats (n = 6 animals per group) for 3 weeks. Mating behavior parameters in male rats was monitored in first week and third week week of treatment pairing with receptive females. After termination of drug treatment, the mating performance, hormonal analysis, sperm count, and testes-body weight ratio were also evaluated.Results:The polyherbal formulation showed a significant increase in mating behavior as well as mating performance, serum hormonal levels, sperm count, and testes-body weight ratio with dose-dependent relationship as compared to vehicle control. But the dose of 600 mg/kg of polyherbal formulation assumes closer resemblance of above parameters with the standard used.Conclusion:The results of the study strongly suggest that the polyherbal formulations have a good aphrodisiac activity on rats in the above experimental models, which may be an alternative weapon for various sexual dysfunctions in future.

Background:Cuminum cyminum Linn. (Umbelliferae), commonly known as Jeera. It is native from mediterranean region, but today widely cultivated in Asian countries. It has been reported to possess various medicinal properties and an important food ingredient. The seed of the plant are claimed for treatment of diarrhoea by various traditional practitioners.Objectives:Hence, the present investigation was undertaken to evaluate aq. extract of C. cyminum seeds (ACCS) against diarrhoea on albino rats.Materials and Methods:The animals were divided into five groups and the control group was applied with 2% acacia suspension, the standard group with loperamide (3 mg/kg) or atropine sulphate (5mg/kg) and three test groups administered orally with 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg of ACCS. The antidiarrhoeal effect was investigated by castor oil induce diarrhoea model, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induced enteropooling model, intestinal transit by charcoal meal test.Results:The ACCS showed significant (P < 0.001) inhibition in frequency of diarrhoea, defecation time delaying, secretion of intestinal fluid as well as intestinal propulsion as compared to control and the graded doses of tested extract followed dose dependent protection against diarrhoea.Conclusions:The study reveals that the ACCS is a potent antidiarrhoeal drug which supports the traditional claim.

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Background: Calendula officinalis Linn. (Asteraceae) is an aromatic herb growing in the forests of India, China, Central Europe, and some tropical areas. The study was designed to investigate the scientific basis for the traditional claim of C. Officinalis on asthma. In the present study, methanol extract of whole plants was evaluated for preliminary phytochemical screening and antiasthmatic activity on different animals. Subjects and Methods: The asthmatic activity was evaluated by histamine-or acetylcholine-induced bronchospasm in guinea pigs, compound 48/80-induced mast cell degranulation in wistar rats, histamine-induced constriction on isolated guinea pig trachea, and ovalbumin-induced sensitization in mice at different dose levels of C. Officinalis. The preconvulsion dyspnoea time at 0 th and 7 th days at the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg in guinea pig, the percentage of granulated and degranulated mast cell of at the dose of 600, 800, 1000 μg/mL in rats, muscular contraction at the dose of 600, 800, and 1000 μg/mL on isolated guinea pig trachea and the inflammatory cell count, that is, eosinophils, neutrophills, lymphocytes, macrophages, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and immunoglobulin-E (IgE) from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at the dose levels of 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg in mice were evaluated and compared with respective control groups. Results: Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroids, saponin, terpenoids, lignins, and phenolic compounds in the extract. In addition, the treatment of methanolic extract of C. officinalis (MECO) significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the bronchospasm induced by histamine or acetylcholine in guinea pigs, degranulation mast cell in rats, histamine-induced constriction on isolated guinea pig trachea, and the level of inflammatory cells as compared with inducer groups. The antiasthmatic activity was potentiated in all the doses in dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: The present study concludes that the antiasthmatic activity may be due to the presence of above phytoconstituents by antihistaminic, anticholinergic, antispasmodic, and mast cell stabilizing property.