title: A review on plants used for improvement of sexual performance and virility.
abstract: The use of plant or plant-based products to stimulate sexual desire and to enhance performance and enjoyment is almost as old as the human race itself. The present paper reviews the active, natural principles, and crude extracts of plants, which have been useful in sexual disorders, have potential for improving sexual behaviour and performance, and are helpful in spermatogenesis and reproduction. Review of refereed journals and scientific literature available in electronic databases and traditional literature available in India was extensively performed. The work reviews correlation of the evidence with traditional claims, elucidation, and evaluation of a plausible concept governing the usage of plants as aphrodisiac in total. Phytoconstituents with known structures have been classified in appropriate chemical groups and the active crude extracts have been tabulated. Data on their pharmacological activity, mechanism of action, and toxicity are reported. The present review provides an overview of the herbs and their active molecule with claims for improvement of sexual behaviour. A number of herbal drugs have been validated for their effect on sexual behavior and fertility and can therefore serve as basis for the identification of new chemical leads useful in sexual and erectile dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh 470003, India ; Drugs Testing Laboratory Avam Anusandhan Kendra, GE Road, Raipur, Chhattisgarh 492010, India.
authors.forename: Nagendra Singh
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh 470003, India.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh 470003, India.
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh 470003, India ; Institute for Laboratory Medicine Clinical Chemistry, and Pathobiochemistry, Charite Universitätsmedizin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Mayank
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thakur
mesh_terms: D001046:Aphrodisiacs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001046:Aphrodisiacs; D010936:Plant Extracts