Aphrodisiac agents used in traditional medicine and their mechanism of action - A Review

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction is the repeated inability to sustain erection firm enough for sexual intercourse while an aphrodisiac is an agent (food/drug) that arouses sexual activity. Various factors affect sexual performance in men, and include; psychological, hormonal abnormalities, aging, penile injury, chronic diseases, lifestyle, medications and radiation. Aphrodisiac medicinal plants could elicit their effect by providing essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids or could improve blood flow to the penile tissues, e.g. Kaempferia parviflora which could inhibit phosphodiesterase enzyme (PDE-5). Some medicinal plants stimulate or act on the central nervous system to derive their aphrodisiac effects, e.g. Pausinystalia yohimbe due to the presence of an alkaloid yohimbine. Medicinal plants could increase the serum level of cholesterol, testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone and improving the overall male reproductive health. The aim of this research is to review the role of medicinal plants in the management of erectile disorders in men, which could lead to discovery of novel chemical scaffolds for the synthesis of potent aphrodisiac agents. Natural products particularly aphrodisiac medicinal plants remain an important source of new drugs, new drug leads and new chemical entities allowing the design, rational planning of new drug biomimetic, discovery of new therapeutic properties not yet attributed to known compounds and synthesis development.