Effects of Rejuvenator - a Local Commercial Libido and Fertility Drink on LD50, Body Weight Changes, Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress Parameters on Male Wister Albino Rats

• Authors: Oluwatobi Ajayi Omoogun , Eze Azubuike Adindu , Elizabeth Benjamin Ekpo , Alfred Bassey Ekpoanwan
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Rejuvenator is a locally produced commercial drink widely marketed as a libido and fertility enhancer. Despite its popularity, there is limited scientific evidence regarding its safety and physiological effects. This study investigated the median lethal dose (LD₅₀), body weight alterations, and antioxidant and oxidative stress parameters associated with Rejuvenator administration in male Wistar albino rats. Twenty-five male rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 5 per group). Group 1 served as the control and received placebo; Group 2 received Viagra (100 mg/kg); Groups 3, 4, and 5 received low (100 mg/kg), medium (200 mg/kg), and high (400 mg/kg) doses of Rejuvenator, respectively. All animals had free access to food and water. The administration lasted three weeks, during which body weight was monitored weekly. At the end of the study, animals were fasted, anesthetized with chloroform, and sacrificed. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical analyses of antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. No mortality was recorded during the experiment, indicating a LD₅₀ greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. Medium-dose Rejuvenator administration produced a significantly higher percentage increase in body weight (14.46 ±0.45%) compared to the control (7.86 ±0.82%), Viagra (8.43 ±0.96%), and low-dose (9.76 ±0.64%) groups. Superoxide dismutase concentration was significantly lower in the Viagra group (36.32 ±3.90) compared to the control (51.89 ±1.15), while medium (48.43 ±1.60) and high (49.52 ±4.00) doses of Rejuvenator improved Superoxide dismutase activity. Catalase levels were significantly reduced in the Viagra (44.20 ±2.90) and low-dose Rejuvenator (48.68 ±2.00) groups compared to the control (65.51 ±1.91). No significant differences were observed in Malondialdehyde levels across groups. Rejuvenator exhibited no acute toxicity and did not promote oxidative stress in male Wistar rats. The drink may enhance antioxidant enzyme activity and promote body weight gain, suggesting potential physiological effects that warrant further investigation.

Keywords

EN

Catalase (CAT); Malondialdehyde (MDA); Rejuvenator; Superoxide dismutase (SOD); antioxidants; libido and fertility drink; oxidative stress

Discipline

• BIOCHEMISTRY: BIOCHEMISTRY

• Publisher: Scientific Publishing House „DARWIN”
• Journal: World News of Natural Sciences
• Year: 2026
• Volume: 64
• Pages: 79-91

Contributors

author

Oluwatobi Ajayi Omoogun

• Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

author

Eze Azubuike Adindu

• Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

author

Elizabeth Benjamin Ekpo

• Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

author

Alfred Bassey Ekpoanwan

• Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China

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• Document Type: article