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Review Article
PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF PLANT USED AS APHRODISIACS
1*
Baljinder Singh , Vikas Gupta , Parveen Bansal , Ranjit Singh , Dharmendra Kumar
1
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shobhit University, Meerut, India.
2
University Centre of Excellence in Research, BFUHS, Faridkot, India.
3
Department of Biochemistry, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
*Corresponding authors E-mail: vikas_4308@rediffmail.com
Received on: 13-09-2010; Finalized on: 11-11-2010.
ABSTRACT
Erectile dysfunction (ED) or male impotence is defined as the inability of a man to achieve and maintain an erection
sufficient for mutually satisfactory intercourse with his partner. Sexual health and function are important determinants
of quality of life. To overcome the problem of sexual (or) erectile dysfunction various natural aphrodisiac potentials are
preferred. The present review discuss about aphrodisiac potential of plants, its biological source, common name, part
used and references, which are helpful for researcher to development new aphrodisiac formulations.
Keywords: Erectile dysfunction, Male impotence, Aphrodisiac potentials, Herbal drugs.
INTRODUCTION
An aphrodisiac is defined as an agent (food or drug) that
arouses sexual desire. Many natural substances have
historically been known as aphrodisiacs in Africa and
Europe, such as Yohimbine and the Mandrake plant, as
well as ground Rhinoceros horn in the Chinese culture
and Spanish fly which is actually toxic1-3. Even in todays
culture there are certain foods that are used as
aphrodisiacs, including strawberries and raw oysters.
Although these natural items are touted as aphrodisiacs,
there is little scientific evidence supporting those
assertions. In a recent study conducted in the Boston
area, 52% of men between the ages of 40 and 70
reported some degree of erectile dysfunction 4. Enhanced
sexual behavior may provide increased relationship
satisfaction and self-esteem in humans 5. Therefore, the
study of aphrodisiacs is important because they may
provide a means to treat the psychological components of
sexual dysfunction as opposed to the current treatments,
surgical implants and injection therapy, which only treat
2
the mechanical component .
Male impotence also called erectile dysfunction (ED) is a
common medical condition that affects the sexual life of
millions of men worldwide 6-7. Erectile dysfunction is
defined as the inability of a man to achieve and maintain
an erection sufficient for naturally satisfactory
intercourse. Sexual dysfunction is a serious medical and
social symptom that occurs in 10-52% of men and 25-63%
of women 8. It is the repeated inability to achieve normal
sexual intercourse male impotence (or) erectile
dysfunction is a significant problem that may contribute
to infertility 9. Erectile dysfunction is adversely affected by
diabetes mellitus, antihypertensive, antipsychotic,
antidepressant therapeutic drugs. Organic causes of
erectile
dysfunction
like
hypogonadism,
hyperprolactinaemia, and neurological disorders 10.
Treatment of ED involves several natural aphrodisiac
potentials. Sexual dysfunction caused by various factors
such as psychological disorders like Anxiety, depression,
stress, fear of sex, neurological disorders, stroke, cerebral
trauma, alzhemiers, Parkinsons disease and chronic
disordersdiabetes, hypertension, vascular insufficiency,
Atherosclerosis, penile disease phinosis, peyronies, life
stylechronic alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking, aging
decrease in hormone level with age. Systemic diseasescardiac, hepatic, renal, pulmonary, cancer 11-13.
Pharmacotherapy involves locally acting vasoactive drugs
such as papaverine and alprostadin 14 and first line oral
therapy for ED includes phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5)
inhibitors such as sildenafil, verdenafil and tadalafil which
inhibit hydrolysis of second messenger cyclic guanosine
mono phosphate (GMP) release with in penile smooth
cells 15-16. The available drugs and treatments have limited
efficacy, unpleasant side effects and contraindications in
certain disease conditions. Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) is a
successful drug that modifies the heamodynamics in the
penis 17. But side effects with this drug are headache,
flushing, dyspepsia and nasal congestion is reported with
this treatment 18. Indian medicine ayurveda includes
Vajakarna therapy which involves aphrodisiacs for erectile
dysfunction, causes of infertility, spermatogenesis, semen
genesis reproduction, methods of correcting defective
semen and sexual satisfaction 19.
Mechanism involved in Aphrodisiac potentials
On sexual stimulation (visual (or) otherwise the famines
of the axons of parasympathetic nerves release nitric
oxide (NO) gas. The gas diffuses into smooth muscle cells
that line those arteries of the corpus carvenosum (spongy
Page 104
Scientific name
Common name
Family
Part used
References
1.
Abelmoschus moschatus
Musk mallow
Malvaceae
Seed
23-24
2.
Ganja
Fabaceae
Seed
25
3.
Abrus precatorius L.
Crab's Eye
Paplionaceae
Seed
26-27
4.
Thuthi
Malvaceae
23
5.
Catechu
Mimosaceae
Heartwood
23, 28
6.
Fabaceae
Bark
29
7.
Aconitum heterophyllum
Wall.
Attesh
Ranunculaceae
Root
30
8.
Sweet flag
Araceae
Rhizome
23, 31-32
9.
Morshikha
Actinopteridaceae
Whole plant
33
10.
Niando
Euphorbiaceae
Root
34
11.
Chiense chive
Zingiberaceae
Seed
35-37
12.
Allium sativum L.
Garlic
Liliaceae
Bulb
13.
Zimbabwe Aloe
Asphodelaceae
Leaf
44
14.
Java galangal
Zingiberaceae
Rhizome
23, 45
15.
Asparagus racemosus
Willd.
Asparagus
Liliaceae
Root
23-24, 46-47
16.
Manja Mandaram
Caesalpiniaceae
Seed
23
17.
Caesalpiniaceae
Seed
23
18.
Bauhinia
Caesalpiniaceae
Bark
23
19.
Ash gourd
Cucurbitaceae
Fruit
23
20.
Silk-Cotton Tree
Bombacaceae
Bark
23
21.
Boesenbergia
rotunda L.
Temu kunci
Zingeberaceae
Rhizome
48-50
22.
Kpayeli
Caesalpiniaceae
Bark, seed
51
23.
Flame-of-the-forest
papilionaceae
Whole plant
23, 48
24.
Cannabis indica L.
Indian hemp
Cannabinaceae
Leaf
52
25.
Capparis erythrocarpus
Isert.
Pitipiti
Capparidaceae
Root
53
26.
Capsicum annuum L.
Capsicum
Solanaceae
Seed
54
27.
Kasondhi
Fabaceae
Leaf
55
28.
Cassia sieberiana DC
African laburnum
Caesalpiniaceae
Leaf
51
29.
Chenopodium album L.
White goosefoot
Chenopodiaceae
Seed
56-58
30.
Chlorophytum tuberosum
Baker.
Safed musli
Liliaceae
Whole plant
51, 59
Page 105
Sr. No.
31.
Scientific name
Cissus quadrangularis Linn.
Common name
Edible stemmed vine
(Dalziel)
Family
Vitaceae
Part used
Root
References
23
32.
Guduchi
Menispermaceae
Stem, leaf,
Root
60
33.
34.
35.
Coconut
Cola
Bumoguan
Arecaceae
Malvaceae
Sterculiaceae
Endosperm
Seed
Leaf
25, 38, 61
62
51
36.
Kola nut
Sterculiaceae
Fruit
34
37.
38.
Kola nut
Kola nut
Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae
Seed
Seed
34
34
39.
Kola nut
Emporium of
medicinal plants
Sterculiaceae
Seed
34
Burseraceae
Root, leaf
23
41.
Burseraceae
Root, leaf
23
42.
Coriander
Apiaceae
Leaf
56
43.
Ivory coast
Rubiaceae
Stem, Bark
53
44.
45.
Saffaron
Musali
Iridaceae
Hypoxidaceae/
Amaryllidaceae
Stigma
Rhizome
35
23-24, 55, 63-64
46.
47.
48.
Mango ginger
Pumpkin
Lemongrass
Zingiberaceae
Cucurbetaceae
Poaceae
Rhizome
Seed
Whole plant
23-24
23
23
49.
Dactylorhiza
hatagirea (D. Don) Soo.
Marsh Orchis
Orchidaceae
Root
50.
Shisham
Fabaceae
Wood
55-56
51.
52.
Daucus carota L.
Desmodium gangeticum
(Linn.) DC.
Carrot
Desmodium
Umbelliferae
Fabaceae
(Papilionaceae)
Root
Root
67
23
53.
54.
Wild Yam
East Indian ebony
Dioscoreaceae;
Ebenaceae
Whole plant
Flower
55
23, 55
Putjev
Euphorbiaceae
Leaf juice
55
56.
57.
Durian Fruit
Indian head, comb
flower
Bombacaceae
Compositae
Fresh fruit
Leave
35, 68
69
58.
59.
Meliaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Root
Fruit
44
70-71
60.
Eriodendron
Anfractuosum DC.
Isongoroit
Emblic
White silk cotton
tree
Bombaceae
Whole plant
60
61.
62.
63.
64.
Dinsinkro
Dudhi
Tongkat Ali
Black aphrodisiac
Capparidaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Simarubaceae
Rubiaceae
Root
Leave
Whole plant
Stem
53
23, 51
35, 72-82
35, 83-84
65.
Peepal tree
Moraceae
Bark
23
40.
55.
Page 106
Sr. No.
66.
Scientific name
Flueggea virosa Roxb. ex
Willd.
Common name
White-berry bush
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Part used
Whole plant
References
62
67.
68.
69.
70.
Bitter kola
Bitter kola
Liquorice
Coomb teak
Guttiferae
Guttiferae
Papilionaceae
Verbenaceae
Bark
Leaf, seed
Root
Fruit
51
51
23
23
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
Grewia asiatica L.
Harissonia abyssinica Oliv
Hibiscus rosa-sinesis
Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.
Holostemma ada-kodien
Schult.
Hygrophila schulli (Ham.)M.
R. & S. M. Almeida
Phalsa
Zigua
China rose
Roselle
Holostemma
Tiliaceae
Simaroubaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Asclepiadaceae
Fruit
Bark
Leaf
Seed, leaf
Root
56
51
23
23
23
Marsh Barbel
Acanthaceae
23
77.
Giant potato
Convolvulaceae
Root
23
78.
79.
Bottle gourd
Hama-fufu
Cucurbitaceae
Apocynaceae
Fruit
Root, Bark
23
53
80.
81.
82.
83.
Maca
Mango
Arrowroot
Senegal
Brassicaceae
Anacardiaceae
Zingiberaceae
Caesalpiniaceae
Root
Bark
Rhizome
Twig or Stem
35, 85-87
23
23
51
84.
Mimosa pudica L.
Thottasiniki
Mimosoideae
Aerial part
88
85.
86.
Mirabilis jalapa L.
Momordica charantia
Descourt.
Nyctaginaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Root
Leaf
71
89
87.
Periplocaceae
Root
35, 44,
90-91
88.
Zoapatle
Asteraceae
Whole plant
35, 92
89.
90.
91.
92.
Poonai kali
Nutmeg
Kaner/Kanail
Ghana akan
Fabaceae
Myristicaceae
Apocynaceae
Rubiaceae
Seed, pod
Seed
Roots
Fruit, leaf
55, 64
35,93
55
51
93.
Ghana
Commelinaceae
Leaf
35, 94
94.
95.
Passiflora incarnate L.
Papaver somniferum L.
Pausinystalia yohimbe
(K.Schum.) Pierre
Piper guineense Schumach.
& Thonn.
Passifloraceae
Papaveraceae
Leaf
Flower
35, 95
23
Yohimbin
Rubiaceae
Bark
96
Piperaceae
Root
53
98.
Piper officinarum DC
Chavica officinarum
Piperaceae
Fruit
23
99.
100.
Vettrilai
Polyalthia
Piperaceae
Annonaceae
Leaf
Fruit, root, leaf
88
34, 97
Solomon's Seal
Liliaceae
Root
30
Apocynaceae
Ericaceae
Root
Leaf, flower
98-99
30
Snow Rose
Ericaceae
Leaf, flower
30
Ricinus communis L.
Castor
Euphorbiaceae
Seed
23
76.
96.
97.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
Page 107
Sr. No.
106.
107.
Scientific name
Rosa damascena Mill
Saccharum spontaneum
Linn.
Common name
Rose
Kasa
Family
Rosaceae
Poaceae
Part used
Petal
Root stock
References
100
25, 38
108.
109.
110.
Sandalwood
Gajapipali
Violet tree
Santalaceae
Arecaceae
Polygalaceae
Heart wood
Fruit
Root bark
100
25, 38
35
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
Tilli / Til
Countary-mallow
Indian night Shade
Brinjal
Aguaragua
Pedaliaceae
Malvaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Seed
Root, seed
Root
Unripe fruit
Berries
55
23
23
23
23
Botobotonisan
Asteraceae
Whole plant
23
117.
Stereospermum
suaveolens DC.
Atkapali
Bignoniaceae
23, 101
118.
119.
Strychnine tree
Clove
Loganiaceae
Myrtaceae
Seed
Dried flower Bud
23
35, 102-103
120.
121.
122.
Iboga
Tabernanthe
Tamarind
Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
Fabaceae
34, 104
34, 104
105
123.
124.
125.
Athel tamarisk
Birmi
Arjuna
Tamariaceae
Taxaceae
Combretaceae
Bark
Leaf
Bark
56
23, 25
23
Tinospora
Menispermaceae
Whole plant
23-24
Tribulus terrestris L.
Trichosanthes dioica Roxb.
Trichosanthes dioica L.
Turrea heterophylla Sm.
Tynanthus panurensis(Bur.)
Sandw.
Vanda tessellata (Roxb.)
Hook. ex Don.
Puncturevine
Wild snake-gourd
Methi
Ahunanyakwa
Zygophyllaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Fabaceae
Meliaceae
Seed, fruit
Flower, fruit
Seed
Root, bark, Seed
35,106-110
23
23
53
Clavo huasca
Bignoniaceae
Bark, wood
111-112
Rasna
Orchidaceae
Root, flower
35, 113-114
133.
134.
Jatamansi
Indian Ginseng
Valerianaceae
Solanaceae
Root
Root, Leaf
115
23, 55-56,
64
135.
Ivory tree
Apocynaceae
23
136.
Gingembre
Zingeberaceae
Rhizome
62
116.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
132.
CONCLUSION
Current world-wide interest in traditional medicine has
led to rapid development and studies of many remedies
employed by various ethnic groups of the world. The
information is recorded in plants scientific name,
common name of plant, family, part used for the
aphrodisiac activity & reference. Scientists from divergent
fields are investigating new plants with an eye to their
aphrodisiac usefulness. A sense of urgency accompanies
the search as the pace of species extinction continues.
More of these plants should be subjected to animal and
2.
Page 108
Evans
WO,
Chemical
Aphrodisiacs,
Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 5(2), 1969, 11.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
12.
26.
13.
27.
14.
28.
29.
30.
31.
15.
16.
Page 109
32.
46.
33.
47.
48.
34.
49.
35.
36.
50.
37.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
Page 110
62.
63.
64.
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77.
78.
79.
65.
80.
66.
81.
67.
82.
68.
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85.
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87.
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71.
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73.
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Page 112
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Page 113