Development and evaluation of aphrodisiac potential of a classical ayurvedic formulation, ‘Kaamdev ghrita’ in rat model
Authors
Nilambari Gurav
aPES’s Rajaram and Tarabai Bandekar College of Pharmacy, Ponda, Goa University, Goa, 403401 India
Shailendra Gurav
bGoa College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Panaji, Goa University, Goa, 403 001 India
Manish Wanjari
cRegional Ayurveda Research Institute for Drug Development, Aamkho, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 474 009 India
Satyendra Prasad
dDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, R.T.M. University, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440033 India
Sandesh Wayal
eJSPM’s Charak College of Pharmacy and Research, Wagholi, Pune, 412 207 India
Nilesh Rarokar
dDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, R.T.M. University, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440033 India
Keywords:
Ayurvedic ghrita, Indian cow ghee, Ayurveda, Sexual performance, VajikaranaRasayana, Polyherbal formulation
Abstract
Ghee is widely considered as the Indian name for clarified butterfat and processing of ghee with therapeutic herbs i.e. ghrita is renowned for augmenting their medicinal properties. Kaamdev ghrita (also known as ‘VajikaranaRasayana’) is cow ghee based classical Ayurvedic formulation from the aphrodisiac category, which is used to ameliorate and potentiate sexual performance and also in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions, infertility, and premature ejaculation.
Objective
Present research work deals with the organoleptic, physicochemical, and biological assessment of Kaamdev ghrita for its aphrodisiac activity using in-vivo animal models.
Material and methods
Kaamdev ghrita was prepared using Indian cow’s ghee as per standard Ayurvedic classical texts and subjected to organoleptic (color, odor, taste, texture, touch), physicochemical (acid value, peroxide value, iodine value, saponification value, unsaponifiable matter, extractive values, refractive index, and specific gravity) analyses as per the standard pharmacopeial procedures. The aphrodisiac potential of ghrita in rat model was evaluated by monitoring sexual behavioral performance using different parameters (mount frequency and latency, intromission frequency and latency, anogenital grooming and sniffing) at the dose of 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight.
Results
The physicochemical evaluation of Kaamdev ghrita showed higher acid value, iodine value, refractive index, and specific gravity whereas the lower saponification and peroxide value than the plain ghee. Kaamdev ghrita revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, sterols, terpenoids, coumarins, tannins, and showed remarkable antioxidant activity by in-vitro assays. It augmented the sexual performance in a dose-dependent manner as indicated by significant improvement (P < 0.05) in mount frequency and latency, intromission frequency and latency, anogenital grooming, and sniffing as compared to plain ghee treated control group. The present investigation has corroborated the ethnopharmacological claim of Kaamdevghrita for its aphrodisiac potential.
Conclusion
Kaamdev ghrita exhibited aphrodisiac activity which may be attributed to the presence of antioxidant herbs present in it. It is the first scientific report on validation of the traditional claim of Kaamdev ghrita for its aphrodisiac potential.
Keywords: Ayurvedic ghrita, Indian cow ghee, Ayurveda, Sexual performance, VajikaranaRasayana, Polyherbal formulation
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