Evaluation of Dietary Supplementation of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L) Seed on Antioxidant Status, Hormonal Level and Sexual Behavior in Male Rats
doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v5i5.25
Keywords:
Aphrodisiac, Hormone, Sexual Behavior, Pumpkin SeedAbstract
The seed of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L) is reportedly used as sex enhancer in folk medicine and to treat impotence in men. Despite all the documented importance of pumpkin seed in both nutrition and medicine, there is little or no scientific evidence of the sexual enhancement of seed in albino rats. In this study, sexual enhancing effect of pumpkin seed on healthy male rats was evaluated. Rats were fed with basal diets (NC), diet supplemented with raw pumpkin seed (5 and 10%), roasted pumpkin seed (5 and 10%) and sildenafil (5 mg/kg). Pre-treated of experimental rats with pumpkin seed for fourteen days led to a significant increment in antioxidant status, hormonal level and sexual behavior. However, processed pumpkin seed appeared to be the most promising when compared to Sildenafil, a standard aphrodisiac drug. In conclusion, these behavioral as well as biochemical parameters which revealed enhanced activities could be part of the mechanism by which the seed exerts its aphrodisiac properties.
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