The Iraqi Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 41(1):92-97

29 Role of aqueous extract of Crocus sativus to improvement of sexual dysfunctions induced by imipramine in male mice Salma J. Askar Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Baghdad University, Iraq. saif1998_2008@yahoo.com mail: E Received: 11/5/2016 Accepted: 8/11/2016 Summary The present study was carried out to shed light on the possible improvement and enhancement of functional performance of male mice sexual activities by using the aqueous extract of Crocus sativus. Several pharmaceutical drugs affect sexual activities and upset the sexual desire sequence that can lead to impotence or loss libido; an example of these drugs are tricyclic antidepressant such as imipramine. To achieve this goal, twenty adult albino male mice were used, which were randomly divided into equal four experimental groups. The first group was given 10 mg/kg B.W. imipramine, the second group was given 100 mg/kg B.W. aqueous extract of Crocus sativus, and the third group was given 100 mg/ kg B.W. Crocus sativus aqueous extract and 10 mg/ kg B.W. imipramine, while the fourth group served as control, which was given D.W. In all groups the doses were given orally by stomach tube at 0.1 ml/10 g. B.W. for 30 days. The recorded parameters were; latency of copulation (second), frequency of copulation (per-hour), and duration of copulation (second). At day thirty blood samples were collected to determine the hormonal levels of luteinizing and testosterone hormones and the testis were obtained for histopathological processing . The results of sexual activity measured parameters showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in latency of copulation and significant increase in both frequency of copulation, and duration of copulation in the groups given aqueous extract of Crocus sativus and that given aqueous extract of Crocus sativus and imipramine as compared with imipramine and control groups. While results of hormonal levels showed significant increase (P<0.05) in both groups of Crocus sativus aqueous extract and imipramine as compared with imipramine only and control groups. On bases of these results, it can be concluded that the sexual activities of male mice given imipramine tend to be improved and returned when administered with aqueous extract of Crocus sativus. Keyword: Aqueous extract, Crocus sativus, Imipramine, Sexual activities, Mice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction Many medical conditions and their treatments contribute to sexual dysfunction. The commonly implicated drugs include antihypertensive (1), tricyclic antidepressants, which inhibit sexual desire and orgasm (2 and 3). A variety of strategies have been tried to reverse drug-induced sexual dysfunction. Imipramine (Tofranil) is a tricyclic antidepressant which is used to treat symptoms of depression but it may cause undesired effects, such as mood or behavior changes and sexual drive decrease that may lead to impotence in males (4). The dried stigma of Crocus sativus (saffron) is commercially available; it is popular because of its delicate aroma and attractive colour. Saffron is used as food additive (5), it is also used in folk medicine for various purposes as aphrodisiac, antispasmodic (6), antidepressant (7), anti inflammatory (8) and for treating various human disorders such as heart and blood disorders (9). Crocus sativus aqueous extract consist of many compounds such as αcrocetin, a water soluble carotenoid , crocins , picrocrocin and safranal (10). However, little attention has been given to the physiological effects and sexual activity of C. sativus extract on reproductive system (11). Thus it was an interest to study the possible effects of aqueous extract of Crocus sativus to improve the sexual dysfunction induced by subacute administration of imipramine in male mice.