IN VIVO FERTILITY ENHANCING ACTIVITY (APHRODISIAC) OF FICUS CARICA FRUIT ON MALE WISTAR RATS

Objectives: Ficus carica fruit was used traditionally for its fertility enhancing activity by folklore physician. So, to add to the existing knowledge of pharmaceutical significance of the above plant this work was chosen. Methods: The dried fruits of Ficus carica were extracted by cold maceration method using aqueous ethanol. Ethanolic extract of Ficus carica fruit was screened for in vivo aphrodisiac activity. Results and conclusion: Qualitative phytochemical analysis of fruits of Ficus carica showed the presence of tannins, flavanoids, saponins, carbohydrates and proteins. Results reveal that on the 1st day of treatment all the treated groups showed increase copulatory sexual behavior and orientational activity in all the experimental animals. The prolonged treatments for all the treated groups were highly effective for increase the sexual libidity, as compared to the solvent control. This indicates that aphrodisiac activity has been shown by ethanolic extract.