EXPERTS CONFIRM AFRICAN CHERRY ‘AGBALUMO’ OTHER PLANT-BASED OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING MALE LIBIDO 

Male s3xual dysfunction, a common condition affecting men worldwide, is often treated with prescription drugs like Viagra or testosterone therapy. However, these medications can be expensive and may cause unwanted side effects, prompting researchers to explore safer, plant-based alternatives.

Now, in a new study, researchers investigated Tribulus cistoides, a plant traditionally used in herbal medicine, in a laboratory model of s3xual dysfunction and confirmed its traditional use as a natural remedy for male sexual dysfunction.

Tribulus cistoides is commonly called puncture vine or devil’s thorn. Tribulus terrestris, a similar plant to it in Nigeria, is called dagunro (Yoruba) and hana taakama (Hausa).

They suggested that T. cistoides could serve as a safer, more accessible alternative to conventional drugs, offering multiple benefits without the side effects associated with synthetic medications.

For the study, the researchers examined the effect of T. cistoides on sexual behavior and reproductive health in 45 male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into nine groups. One group served as a healthy control, while another received nicotine to induce sexual dysfunction.

A third group received sildenafil as a reference treatment. The remaining groups were given nicotine along with different doses of T. cistoides extracts, either aqueous (water-based) or ethanol-based.

Over a period of nine days, researchers monitored sexual behaviour, hormone levels, and reproductive organ health. They also analysed biochemical markers such as testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), nitric oxide (NO), antioxidant activity, testicular proteins, and seminal vesicle fructose.

Nicotine exposure impaired sexual behavior in the rats, reducing libido, mounting frequency, and other measures of sexual performance. However, treatment with T. cistoides extracts reversed these effects, restoring sexual activity toward normal levels.

The plant extracts also had a significant impact on reproductive hormones. Nicotine had lowered testosterone levels to 0.079 ng/mL, but treatment with both the water and ethanol extracts of T. cistoides boosted its levels. LH and FSH levels were similarly improved, indicating stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, a key regulator of male reproductive function.

Moreover, the extracts improved markers of oxidative stress in the testes, enhanced nitric oxide production in penile tissue, increased total testicular protein, and boosted seminal vesicle fructose. These are important for sperm energy and motility.

In addition to improving sexual behavior, the extracts delayed ejaculation and increased ejaculation frequency in the nicotine-treated rats, indicating potential benefits for sexual satisfaction and motivation.

They suggested that the chemical constituents of T. cistoides can enhance blood flow, hormone production, and nitric oxide levels, which are essential for erection, libido, and overall sexual performance.

Unlike Viagra, which primarily acts on blood flow without affecting hormones or antioxidant balance, T. cistoides demonstrated both androgenic and antioxidant properties.

The study also found no significant difference between the water-based and ethanol-based extracts, suggesting that the plant’s active compounds are effective across different extraction methods.

This research underscores the growing interest in plant-based therapies for reproductive health. With sexual dysfunction affecting millions of men worldwide, natural remedies like T. cistoides could provide a promising option, especially in regions where access to pharmaceutical treatments is limited or costly.

Moreover, Hymenodictyon pachyantha also referred to by local names like ọ́badan in Nigeria, was also muted as a natural, plant-based option for managing erectile dysfunction and diabetes, offering a potentially safer and more accessible alternative to conventional drugs like Viagra.

A recent study investigated the potential of Hymenodictyon pachyantha, a local plant, for improving sexual function and controlling blood sugar levels.

The test of the plant’s ethanol extract using laboratory (in vitro) and computer-based (in silico) methods revealed that it inhibited enzymes responsible for erectile dysfunction, at levels comparable to sildenafil (Viagra), the standard ED drug.

The extract also showed strong antidiabetic potential by inhibiting the enzymes that break down sugars, in a manner similar to acarbose, a standard diabetes medication.

While the results are promising, the researchers caution that further studies are needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of these compounds in living organisms.

If validated in future research, Hymenodictyon pachyantha could become a natural, plant-based option for managing erectile dysfunction and diabetes, offering a potentially safer and more accessible alternative to conventional drugs.

Citropsis articulata, commonly known as the African cherry orange, agbalumo or udara, is traditionally used in various African communities to enhance male sexual performance. Also, the plant’s efficacy in managing erectile dysfunction has now been scientifically evaluated in laboratory experiments with male Wistar rats.

Researchers tested both the leaf and root bark extracts of African cherry orange to determine their effects on sexual behaviour and hormone levels. S3xual behaviour includes attraction to females, penile erection, mount frequency, and mount latency.

Both leaf and root bark extracts significantly improved s3xual behaviour in the rats: they increased attraction to females, enhanced penile erection, raised mount frequency, and reduced the time it took for the first mount.

The leaf extract showed slightly stronger effects, particularly at the 500 mg/kg dose, which boosted testosterone levels to 14.50 ng/ml. This is markedly higher than the 4.00 ng/ml observed in rats treated with sildenafil.

However, when the extracts, particularly leaves of African cherry orange, were stopped and the animals were observed for an additional 14 days, both testosterone levels and sexual activity declined, suggesting that continuous use is necessary to maintain the effects.

These studies add to growing evidence that traditional medicinal plants may provide dual health benefits, reinforcing the importance of investigating local flora for modern therapeutic applications.

@ Nigerian Tribune