OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the aphrodisiac activity of aqueous extract of Anthonotha macrophylla leaves(AEAML) in female Wistar rats.METHODS: Thirty female rats were assigned into five groups of six animals each, such that rats in groups A, B, C, D and E received orally 1 mL of distilled water only, 5.7 mg/kg body weight(BW) of Exus Ginseng(a polyherbal formulation), 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg BW of AEAML, respectively. After 1 h of treatment, female sexual behaviour parameters were monitored for 30 min. Luteinizing hormone(LH), follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), estradiol(E) and testosterone were also determined using standard methods.RESULTS: Six secondary metabolites were detected in AEAML with alkaloids(13.00 mg/L) being the highest. AEAML at 25 and 50 mg/kg BW significantly(P<0.05) increased the darting frequency, hopping frequency, lordosis frequency, anogenital grooming, genital grooming and licking behaviour, whereas the darting latency, hopping latency and lordosis latency decreased(P<0.05) in a manner comparable with Exus Ginseng. The 25 and 50 mg/kg BW of AEAML increased(P<0.05) the serum concentrations of FSH, LH and E, like Exus Ginseng, whereas testosterone content was not altered(P>0.05). The 100 mg/kg BW of AEAML did not alter(P>0.05) the sexual behaviour parameters, serum FSH, LH and E contents, whereas testosterone content increased significantly. The ovarian histology of the animals treated with Exus Ginseng, AEAML at 25 and 50 mg/kg BW revealed developing and ruptured follicles with numerous corpora lutea in the stroma, whereas the 100 mg/kg BW of AEAML produced fewer follicles and corpora lutea.CONCLUSION: The enhanced proceptive, receptive and orientation components of the female sexual behaviour by the 25 and 50 mg/kg BW of AEAML confers sexual invigorating potential on the plant. This study thus justifies the folkloric claim of the plant as a female aphrodisiac. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the aphrodisiac activity of aqueous extract of Anthonotha macrophylla leaves (AEAML) in female Wistar rats. METHODS: Thirty female rats were assigned into five groups of six animals each, such that rats in groups A, B, C, D and 1 mg of body weight (BW) of Exus Ginseng (a polyherbal formulation), 25, 50 and 100 mg / kg BW of AEAML, respectively. After 1 h of treatment, female Sex behavior parameters were monitored for 30 min. Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E) and testosterone were also determined using standard methods.RESULTS: Six secondary metabolites were detected in AEAML with alkaloids (13.00 mg / The darting frequency, hopping frequency, lordosis frequency, anogenital grooming, genital grooming and licking behavior, but the darting latency, hopping latency and lordosis latency d The 25 and 50 mg / kg BW of AEAML increased (P <0.05) the serum concentrations of FSH, LH and E, like Exus Ginseng, while testosterone content was not altered (P <0.05) in a manner comparable to Exus Ginseng. (P> 0.05). The 100 mg / kg BW of AEAML did not alter (P> 0.05) the sexual behavior parameters, serum FSH, LH and E contents, while testosterone content increased significantly. The ovarian histology of the animals treated with Exus Ginseng, AEAML at 25 and 50 mg / kg BW revealed developed and ruptured follicles with numerous corpora lutea in the stroma, while the 100 mg / kg BW of AEAML produced fewer follicles and corpora lutea. CONCLUSION: The enhanced proceptive, receptive and orientation components of the female sexual behavior by the 25 and 50 mg / kg BW of AEAML confers sexual invigorating potential on the plant. This This result from the folkloric claim of the plant as a female aphrodisiac.