Ameliorative Effect of Fructo-Oligosaccharide Rich Extract of Orchis latifolia Linn. on Sexual Dysfunction in Hyperglycemic Male Rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent modern degenerative disease that has been implicated for deleterious effects on male reproductive function possibly due to an increased oxidative stress. Fructans and fructooligosaccharides (FOS’s) which are also considered as functional food components, have been reported to produce a benevolent effect against streptozotocin induced oxidative stress. The aqueous extract of Orchis latifolia rich in FOS’s as well as phytosterols were evaluated for their efficacy against streptozotocin and alloxan induced sexual dysfunction. The behavioral analysis of rats was undertaken to observe the effect on mount, ejaculation and intromission latencies as well as frequencies, hesitation time and copulatory rate. It was observed that hyperglycemia has an adverse effect on overall sexual behavior. The deleterious effect was significantly reduced in animals treated with polysaccharide rich fraction of O. latifolia. The study suggests that the diabetes induced sexual disability may be ameliorated by proper usage of herbal drugs.