Pharmacy Education (2024) 24(3) 358 - 362 https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2024.243.358362 Pharmacy Education 24(3) 358 - 362 358 ISSN 1477-2701 online © 2024 FIP IGSCPS SPECIAL EDITION RESEARCH ARTICLE Testing the aphrodisiac effects of Sterculia quadrifida (faloak) bark powder on male white rats (Rattus norvegicus) Jefrin Sambara, Ni Nyoman Yuliani , Muhamad Satria Pua Upa , Emanuel Gerald Alan Rahmat Health Polytechnic of the Ministry of Health, Kupang, Indonesia Introduction Indonesian people have long used the surrounding natural resources as traditional medicine. This traditional medicine in Indonesia is known as jamu. Traditional medicine has good prospects and potential for development in the future. In addition to being readily available due to the accessibility of the raw materials, traditional medicine is generally safer and has relatively fewer effects than that of modern medicine (Hertiani et al., 2019). Medicinal plants with aphrodisiac properties are very common among men (Nimesh, 2016). Aphrodisiacs are ingredients that can increase stamina and libido or sexual desire (Kotta et al., 2013). Plants that are efficacious as aphrodisiacs are physiologically able to facilitate blood circulation in the central nerve or peripheral blood circulation, which then stimulates blood circulation in the male genitals (Lee et al., 2016). Various aphrodisiacs have the potential to improve erections, stimulate arousal centres in the brain, improve fitness, increase the production and performance of sex hormones, or be able to increase the blood flow capacity of the blood vessels that flow to the penis (Lim, 2017). Some plants which are known to have aphrodisiac benefits include ginseng from Korea (Panax ginseng) (Abdel-Wahhab et al., 2014), Eurycoma longifolia Jack (Eurycoma et al.) (Rehman et al., 2016), and faloak bark (Sterculia quadrifida R.Br) (Darojati et al., 2022). Faloak bark is one of the traditional medicinal plants that are efficacious as a medicine for men. Faloak bark (Sterculia quadrifida R.Br) (Winanta et al., 2019), hereafter referred to as faloak, is a member of the genus Sterculia, a species of the Family Sterculiaceae that has not received attention. However, it has traditionally had potential as a medicinal ingredient Keywords Aphrodisiac Effect Quality Sterculia quadrifida Correspondence Jefrin Sambara Department of Pharmacy Health Polytechnic of the Ministry of Health Kupang Indonesia sambarajefrin@gmail.com Abstract Background: Sterculia quadrifida R.Br has been widely known and, empirically, has been widely used as an herbal ingredient to overcome sexual disorders in men. Objective: This study aims to assess the quality, stability, and aphrodisiac properties of faloak bark solution preparations (from plants R.Br Sterculia quadrifida) found on Timor Island, specifically on male white rats of the Wistar strain. Method: This research is a type of experimental research. The activity test used two variations of the formula (50%, 100%) extract, positive and negative control tests. Data were analysed with one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). Result: The test results of extract quality and stability, including moisture content, resting angle, flow speed, dissolving time, organoleptic test, pH, specific gravity, clarity, and homogeneity, met the requirements. The analysis results found significant differences in each test group (p < 0.05), and there were substantial differences between the negative control group and the positive control group, formula one and formula two. Conclusion: The preparation of the solution of Sterculia quadrifida R. met the established quality and stability. The results of the aphrodisiac test of the effect of Sterculia quadrifida R.Br on the parameters of introduction and climbing activity showed significant activity compared to the negative control group.