Scientific Validation of South African Aphrodisiac Plants for Erectile Dysfunction: An Exploratory Review

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a global public health issue affecting approximately 150 million men of all ages. The ED prevalence in South Africa is 65% of adult males attending a primary care facility. In South Africa, several aphrodisiac plants were traditionally used to treat and manage ED. Therefore, the review sought to scientifically validate the use of aphrodisiac plants in the treatment of ED. Secondary data were extracted from previous articles, which were obtained from Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and ResearchGate databases. Diverse aphrodisiac plants including S. longepedunculata A. vera , E. capensis , M. oleifera , M. serrata , Z. officinale , M. angustifolia , V. unguiculata , A. sativum , and W. somnifera exhibited many phytonutrients and secondary metabolites. Phytonutrients comprised vitamins (A, B 1-4 , B 6 , B 9 , B 12 , C, E) and minerals (iron, copper, selenium, potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, etc) while secondary metabolites comprised polyphenols, phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and others. Those phytoconstituents exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, vasodilatory, antihyperlipidemic, antiatherosclerosis, antithrombotic, antihyperglycemic, anti-sickling, and antihypertension properties. As explained in the body of text, plant extracts, phytoconstituents, and pharmacological properties demonstrated, through various ways, their commendable potential to stimulate erectile function in animal models by increasing sexual drive, testosterone, and blood flow. But some aphrodisiac plants, E. tirucalli , C. tomentosa , E. lysistemon , A. senegal , S. madagacariensis , R. communis , A. vera , B. natalensis , P. Africana , K. africana , A. sativum , C. edulis , and C. sativa , were found to be toxic when administered to animal models. Overall findings explain the use of those aphrodisiac plants in the treatment and management of ED by local communities. However, these findings are inconclusive because they are mostly based on in vitro and in vivo studies. Therefore, clinical trials are recommended to determine efficacy and safety in terms of standardising optimal dosages for humans with ED.