Clinical trial of Butea superba, an alternative herbal treatment for erectile dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of Butea superba on erectile dysfunction (ED) in Thai males.


METHODS
A 3-month randomized double-blind clinical trial was carried out in volunteers with ED, aged 30 years approximately 70 years, to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the crude preparation of Butea superba tubers on ED.


RESULTS
There was a significant upgrading in 4 of the 5 descriptive evaluations of the IIEF-5 questionnaire. Estimation of the sexual record indicated that 82.4% of the patients exhibited noticeable improvement. Haematology and blood chemistry analysis revealed no apparent change.


CONCLUSIONS
The plant preparation appears to improve the erectile function in ED patients without apparent toxicity.
Cherdshewasart
W
W
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phyathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. cwichai@sc.chula.ac.th
Nimsakul
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D031290:Butea / Q000737:chemistry*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013785:Thailand
D006454:Hemoglobins; D013739:Testosterone