Evaluation of the sex enhancement and fertility properties of Waltheria indica ethanol root extract in Drosophilia melanogaster (Fruit flies)

Abstract

Folklore medical practitioners have indicated the roots of Waltheria indica in the management of erectile dysfunction but there seems to be no sufficient scientific evidence to support the claim. This study investigated the aphrodisiac and fertility enhancing potentials of the ethanol root extract of Waltheria indica using the fruit fly (Drosophilia melanogaster) model. A total of 24 sexually inexperience male flies were randomly allotted to four groups. The negative control (group A) was fed on 0.2 ml of 10% ethanol only and groups B, C, and D received 0.025% w/w, 0.05% w/w and 0.1% w/w of extract respectively. Mating studies showed a significant difference in mating latency of treated flies at (p< 0.01, p< 0.001 and p