A review of potential pharmacological and phytochemical effects of aphrodisiac plants used in the treatment of sexual dysfunction in men from Gabon

Abstract

The uses of plants for therapeutic purposes, aphrodisiac plants seem attractive for improving sex life. However, their uses are not without danger. The aim of this work is to review the uses in ethno-medicine, the bio-pharmacological properties and the toxicity of plants used as aphrodisiacs and for the management of sexual dysfunction problems in Gabon. Thus, this review article was conducted based on 248 articles (reviews and original articles) and related books from reputable databases. The results showed that plants used in the management of dysfunctions and as aphrodisiacs are also used in ethno-medicine and present good pharmacological activities. Other results of several studies on the toxicity of some of these plants show that several are toxics with significant LD50. These two observations suggest that use of certain plants would be toxic and could be fatal for consumers, especially in people with renal or hepatic insufficiency.