Table 2.
A list of few of the various popular herbs with ehtnopharmacological backing for being used as aphrodisiac. The table also describes the possible mechanism of action of one or more constitutent isolated from them.
| Serial number | Biological source | Part used | Extract used | Mechanism of action | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Aframomum Melegueta
Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) |
Fruits | Aqueous extracts | Improvement of sexual behaviour | [114] |
| 2 | Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Liliaceae) | Roots | Aqueous extracts | Improvement of sexual behaviour | [115] |
| 3 |
Allium tuberosum Rottl. ex Spreng (Liliaceae) |
Seeds | Butanolic extract | Improvement of sexual behaviour | [116] |
| 4 | Alpinia calcarata Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) | Rhizomes | Hot Aqueous extract | Increase of sexual behaviour And testosterone |
[117] |
| 5 |
Argeria nervosa syn. A. speciosa Sweet (Convolvulaceae) |
Fresh leaves, roots and flowers | Aqueous, ethanol, hexane extract | Improvement of sexual behaviour | [118] |
| 6 | Aspidosperma ulei Markgr. (Apocyanaceae) | Root | Alkaloidal rich fraction | Increase penile erection | [119] |
| 7 | Asteracantha longifolia Nees (Syn) (Acanthaceae) | Seeds | Ethanolic extract | Improvement of sexual behaviour | [120] |
| 8 | Anacyclus pyrethrum DC (Compositae) | Root | Aqueous extract, Ethanolic extract |
Improvement of sexual behaviour | [121–123] |
| 9 | Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae) | Leaf | Hexane extract |
Increase fertility | [124] |
| 10 |
Bulbine natalensis Baker (Asphodelaceae) |
Stem | Aqueous extract | Increase hormone level | [125] |
| 11 | Butea Frondosa Koen. ex Roxb. (Leguminosae) | Bark | Aqueous extract | Improvement of sexual behaviour | [126] |
| 12 | Butea superba Roxb (Leguminosae) | Tuber | Ethanolic extracts | Increase penile erection | [39] |
| 13 |
Bryonia lacinosa Linn (Cucurbitaceae) |
Seeds | Ethanolic extracts | Improvement of sexual behaviour | [127] |
| 14 |
Basella alba L. (Basellaceae) |
Leaves | Terpenoid or steroid compounds |
Increased the blood testosterone concentrations | [128] |
| 15 |
Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf. (Zingiberaceae) |
Rhizome | Ethanolic extract | Improvement of sexual behaviour | [129] |
| 16 | Casimiroa edulis La Llave (Rutaceae) | Seed | Aqueous extract | Improve sexual activity | [130] |
| 17 | Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze (Theaceae), | Leaves and buds | Aqueous extract | Increased the blood testosterone concentrations | [131] |
| 18 |
Catha edulis Forsk (Celestreceae) |
Shoots and Small branches |
Chloroform : diethyether extract (1 : 3) | Improvement of sexual behaviour | [132] |
| 19 |
Caesalpinia benthamiana L. (Caesalpiniaceae) |
Roots | Aqueous extract | Improve sexual activity | [133] |
| 20 | Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. (Liliaceae) | Roots | Ethanolic extract | Improve sexual activity | [51] |
| 21 |
Cocculus hirsutus
Linn (Menispermaceae) |
Aerial part | Methanolic extract | Spermatogenic | [134] |
| 22 | Curculigo orchioides Gaertn (Amaryllidaceae) | Rhizome | Ethanolic extract | Improve sexual activity | [42, 135] |
| 23 | Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae) | Stigma | Aqueous extract | Improve sexual activity | [136] |
| 24 |
Cynomorium coccineum L. (Cynomoraceae) |
Roots | Water Extract |
Increased spermatogenesis and increase sperm count | [48] |
| 25 |
Diodia scandeus
SW. (Rubiaceae) |
Herbs | Ethanolic extract | Potentiates the action of ACh and adrenaline | [137] |
| 26 | Dracaena arborea (Wild) Link (Dracaenaceae) | Root | Aqueous and Ethanolic | Improve sexual activity | [138] |
| 27 | Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D.Don) Soo (Orchidacea) | Tubers | Aqueous extract | Improve sexual activity | [139] |
| 28 |
Eurycoma longifolia Jack. (Simaroubaceae) |
Roots | Methanolic extracts | Improve sexual activity | [67] |
| 29 | Eulophia nuda Lind. (Orchidaceae) | Tubers | Powder | Improve sexual activity | [140] |
| 30 | Epimedium koreanum Nakai (Berberidaceae) | Herbs | Aqueous and Ethanolic | Improve sexual activity | [56] |
| 31 | Epimedium brevicornum Maxim (Berberidaceae) | Root | Aqueous Extract | Increase Nitric oxide release | [141] |
| 32 | Fadogia agrestis Schweinf. Ex Hiern (Rubiaceae) | Stem | Alkaloids and Saponins |
Increased the blood testosterone concentrations | [142] |
| 33 |
Ferula hermonis Boiss (Umbelliferae) |
Roots | Acetonic extract | Stimulated sexual motivation | [143] |
| 34 | Garcinia cambogia Desr. (Clusiaceae) | Seeds | Biflavonoid and xanthone | Increase sperm count | [144] |
| 35 |
Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) |
Flowers | Anthocyanins | Increase Sperm count | [145] |
| 36 |
Hibiscus macranthus
Hochst. Ex A.Rich. (Malvaceae) |
Leaves | Terpenoid or steroid compounds |
Increased the blood testosterone concentrations | [128] |
| 37 |
Kaempferia parviflora Wall. Ex. Baker (Zingiberaceae) |
Rhizomes | Alcohol extract | Increase in blood flow to the testis, Sexual behaviour | [146, 147] |
| 38 |
Lepidium meyenii
Walpers (Brassicaceae) |
Root | Aqueous extract | Spermatogenesis | [83] |
| 39 | Lophira laceolata (Ohanacea) | Stem Bark | Aqueous extract | Improve sexual behaviour | [148] |
| 40 | Lithospermum arvense L. (Boraginaceae) | Seed | Aqueous extract | Androgenic | [149] |
| 41 | Massularia acuminata (G. Don) Bullock ex Hoyl. (Rubiaceae) | Stem | Aqueous extract | Stimulate male sexual maturation | [150] |
| 42 | Mondia whitei (Hook f.) Skeels. (Periplocaceae) | Roots | Aqueous extract | Increase in the testicular weight and serum and testicular testosterone | [151, 152] |
| 43 |
Mucuna pruriens Baker (Fabaceae) |
Seed | Chloroform extract | Spermatogenic | [84] |
| 44 | Microdesmis keayana J.Léonard. (Pandaceae) | Roots | Keayanidine B and keayanine | Stimulate NO production | [153] |
| 45 | Montanoa tomentosa Cerv (Asteraceae) | Leaves and flowers | Aqueous extract | Improve sexual behaviour | [154] |
| 46 |
Myristica fragrans
Houtt. (Myristicaceae) |
Nutmeg | 50% ethanolic extracts | Improve sexual behaviour | [155, 156] |
| 47 | Orchis latifolia Linn (Orchidaceae) | Roots | Aqueous extract, Powder |
Improve sexual behaviour | [140, 157] |
| 48 |
Panax ginseng
C. A. Mayer (Araliaceae) |
Roots | Ginsenosides, saponin glycosides |
Increase Nitric oxide central nervous system action |
[158] |
| 49 |
Panax quinquefolium
L. (Araliaceae) |
Roots | Powdered | Facilitate male copulatory behavior |
[159] |
| 50 |
Pausinystalia yohimbe
Pierre ex Beille (Rubiaceae) |
Bark | Yohimbine | Improve sexual behaviour And penile erection |
[160] |
| 51 |
Peganum harmala L. (Zygophyllaceae) |
Seed | Powdered | Improve semen quality, Spermatogenesis and organ weight | [161] |
| 52 |
Pentadiplandra brazzeana
Baill. (Capparidaceae) |
Root | Aqueous extract | Serum and testicular testosterone levels testicular cholesterol, the seminal vesicular fructose | [162] |
| 53 |
Pfaffia paniculata (Martius) Kuntze (Amaranthaceae) |
Root | Aqueous extract | Increase serum testosterone | [163] |
| 54 | Piper Gnineense Schumach. & Thonn. (Piperaceae) | Fruits | Aqueous extract | Improvement of sexual behaviour | [114] |
| 55 | Psidium guajava Linn (Myrtaceae) | Leaves | Ethanol extract | Increase sperm count | [164] |
| 56 |
Psoralea corylifolia L. (Fabaceae) |
Fruits | Aqueous extract | Increased sperm counts, induces spermatogenesis | [165] |
| 57 | Passiflora incarnate Linn (Passifloraceae) | Leaves | Methanolic extract | Increase sexual behaviour | [166] |
| 58 | Rubus coreanus Miq (Rosaceae) | Fruit | Powder | Enhancing spermatogenesis | [167] |
| 59 |
Rhoicissus tridentata L.f. (Wild and R.B. Drumm) (Vitaceae) |
Root bark | Chloroform and Ethanolic extract | Relaxed the corpus cavernosal smooth muscle | [168] |
| 60 | Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. | Flower bud | 50% ethanolic extract | Increase sexual behaviour | [169] |
| 61 | Senecio cardiophyllus Hemsl (Asteraceae) | Root | Aqueous extract | Increase the ejaculatory capacity | [170] |
| 62 |
Salvia haematodes L. (Lamiaceae) |
Roots | Ethanolic extract | Increase sexual behaviour | [171] |
| 63 | Securidaca longepedunculata (Fresen) (Polygalaceae), | Root bark | Chloroform and Ethanolic extract | Relaxed the corpus cavernosal smooth muscle | [168] |
| 64 | Terminalia catappa Linn. (Combretaceae) | Seeds | Seed suspension | Increase sexual behaviour | [172] |
| 65 |
Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae) |
Fruits | Protodioscin | Androgen increasing property | [101] |
| 66 |
Tribulus alatus
Delile (Zygophyllaceae) |
Aerial parts and fruits | 70% alcoholic extract | Increase serum testosterone | [173] |
| 67 |
Trichopus Zeylanicus
Gaertn (Trichopodaceae) |
Leaf | Ethanolic extract | Stimulate sexual behaviour | [174] |
| 68 | Tricholepis glaberrima. DC (Compositae) | Aerial parts | Methanol extract | Stimulate sexual behaviour | [175] |
| 69 |
Turnera diffusa Willd (Turneraceae) |
Leaf | 30% ethanol in water (v : v), | Stimulate sexual behaviour | [176] |
| 70 |
Vanda tessellate (Roxb.) Hook. Ex Don (Orchidaceaae) |
Root, flower |
Aqueous and ethanolic | Stimulate sexual behaviour | [177] |
| 71 | Wrightia natalensis (Stapf) (Apocynaceae) | Root bark | Chloroform and Ethanolic extract | Relaxed the corpus cavernosal smooth muscle | [168] |
| 72 | Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. (Solanaceae) | Root | Aqueous extract | Spermatogenesis | [49] |
| 73 |
Zingiber officinale
Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) |
Roots | Aqueous extract | Increase of both testis weight and serum testosterone levels |
[162] |
| 74 | Pueraria tuberosa DC (Fabaceae) |
tubers | Ethanolic extract | Stimulate sexual behavior | [178] |
| 75 | Spilanthes acmella Murr. (Asteraceae) |
flowers | Ethanolic extract | Stimulate sexual behavior | [179] |
| 76 |
Pedalium murex Linn. (Pedaliaceae) |
fruits | Ethanolic extract | Stimulate sexual behavior | [180] |
| 77 |
Dracaena arboreaI (Willd.) (Asparagaceae) |
Roots | Aqueous and ethanolic extracts | inhibit the activity of the bulbospongiosus muscles | [181] |
| 78 |
Allanblackia floribunda
Oliv. (Guttiferae) |
Stem bark | Aqueous and ethanolic extracts | inhibit the activity of the bulbospongiosus muscles | [182] |
| 79 | Corchorus depressus Linn (Tiliaceae) | Whole plant | Chlorofrm fraction | Stimulate sexual behavior | [183] |
| 80 | Arctium lappa L (Asteraceae) | Root | Aqueous extract | Stimulate sexual behavior | [184] |
| 81 | Musa paradisiacal L (Musaceae) | Root | Aqueous extract | Increase testosterone level | [185] |
| 82 | Lecaniodiscus cupanioides Planch. (Sapindaceae) | Root | Aqueous extract | Increase testosterone level | [186] |