Screening of aphrodisiac property in sea slug, Aplysia dactylomela

Ridzwan Hashim; Noor Atika Elliyana Mohd Roslan; Farah Hanis Zulkipli; Jamaluddin Mohd Daud

doi:10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60222-4

Screening of aphrodisiac property in sea slug, Aplysia dactylomela

Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2014 Sep:7S1:S150-4. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60222-4.

Authors

Ridzwan Hashim¹, Noor Atika Elliyana Mohd Roslan², Farah Hanis Zulkipli², Jamaluddin Mohd Daud³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Science, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: dr_ridzwan@yahoo.com.
² Department of Biomedical Science, Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
³ Department of Chemistry, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PMID: 25312111
DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60222-4

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the aphrodisiac property of Aplysia dactylomela (A. dactylomelan), locally known as 'dugu-dugu', which is one of the sea slug species.

Methods: Two types of extractions were used; aqueous and lipid. Three doses of each A. dactylomelan extract, respectively; 50, 100, 200 mg/kg were administered (i.p.) to male mice for mounting behavior test. Sildenafil citrate or Viagra® (5 mg/kg) being positive control while negative control received saline solution.

Results: The animals treated with lipid extract at the respective dose exhibited mounting behavior, but the mounting frequency decreased at higher doses (100 and 200 mg/kg). However, all doses of aqueous extract did not show any mounting behavior. Meanwhile, in all doses of lipid extracts administered displayed significant difference (P<0.05) from the positive control. Despite this, only the lipid extract of 50 mg/kg showed significant difference (P<0.05) with negative control. This signifies that lipid extracts especially in dose 50 mg/kg have a substantial effect of aphrodisiac property. In addition, the presence of steroids was detected in the phytochemical screening of lipid extract.

Conlusions: The findings from this study provides preliminary scientific evidence that A. dactylomela could be used as an alternative medication of natural product for promoting sexual activity in men.

Keywords: Aphrodisiac; Aplysia dactylomela extract; Mounting frequency; Sildenafil citrate.