Toxicity and aphrodisiac activity of the capsules derived from the cortex of Uvaria rufa

Sexual dysfunction is a condition characterized by disturbance in sexual function. About 12 to 51.6% of men aged 60 years and older experience decreased sexual desire and about 14.3 to 70% experience erectile dysfunction. The people ofEast Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, traditionally use the cortex of Uvaria rufaas a treatment for male sexual dysfunction. This study aimed to determine the safety of 70% ethanol extract of U. rufacortex (URCE) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and evaluate the aphrodisiac activity of capsules derived from the 70% ethanol extract of U. rufacortex (URCC).The acute toxicity was assessed by estimating the LD50 of URCE using the fixed dose method. Aphrodisiac activity was assessed by measuring Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, seminiferous tubule diameter, and testicular weight following the administration of URCC at doses of 1.34, 2.69, and 5.37 mg/20 g BW. Sildenafil at a dose of 0.13 mg/20 g BW was used as the positive control. The resultshows that URCE showed low acute toxicity in zebrafish with an LD50value of 1.582 μg/mL. Meanwhile, in the aphrodisiac activity evaluation, administration of URCC at a dose of 5.37 mg/20 g BW of mice/day was found to be the optimal dose resulting in significant increase in testicular weight, Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, and the diameter of the seminiferous tubules. These findings therefore revealed the potential of Uvaria rufa as a safer alternative to conventional drugs for the treatment of male sexual dysfunction.