Goat weed could correct Erectile Dysfunction in men

London, September 27:Unable to attain or sustain an erection firm enough to carry-on and complete a sexual intercourse? Try out a new herb – the horny goat weed, for researchers claim it can mimic the results of some common anti-impotence pills.

The soft green heart-shaped leaves of the horny goat weed, a plant used as natural aphrodisiacs in traditional cultures, could rekindle your sexual desire, a team of Italian researchers claim.

Medically, erectile dysfunction, is defined as the combination of:
• total inability to achieve erection,
• an inconsistent ability to do so,
• or a tendency to sustain only brief erections.

The problem, known to increase with age, affects as high as 50 percent men between the ages of 40 and 70.

As an impaired blood supply into the penis is the root cause of the condition, common anti-impotence drugs inhibit an enzyme, phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5), which promotes male erection.

Basing the study on the above fact, researchers led by Mario Dell'Agli, at the University of Milan, tested the four plants to see how well they inhibit PDE5.

Analysis revealed that only one - Epimedium brevicornum, commonly known as horny goat weed - possessed the feature. Also, the main compound in horny goat weed, icariin, worked just as well as Viagra, the signature anti-impotence pill.

Moreover, unlike Viagra, the herbal drug was free from adverse side effects.

As sildenafil, an active compound of anti-impotence pills, affects other phosphodiesterases, including some that are essential to sight and heart function, people at high heart risk and those with troubled vision are advised not to take such drugs.

"If people eat horny goat weed, I think they’ll surely benefit from it," Dell'Agli said.

The results of the study will be published in the October 24 issue of the Journal of Natural Products.