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A Chinese herb known as Horny Goat Weed has long had a reputation for being natural aphrodisiac but Mario Dell’Agli, a researcher at the University of Milan, thinks it could be a herbal remedy for erectile dysfunction.
“This could be the natural Viagra,” he said in a telephone interview. “The novelty is that we have synthesised a new molecule that one day may be able to replace Viagra.”
Drugs like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra all work by increasing blood flow to the genitals and inhibiting an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5. But these can have side-effects such as headaches, upset stomach and visual problems.
Dell’Agli’s Italian team looked for alternatives by studying a number of plants reputed to boost sexual performance.
The researchers modified a compound in the Horny Goat weed called icariin and discovered that it too blocked the erection-inhibiting enzyme as well as Viagra did and, because the compound targets the enzyme more precisely, it may have fewer side effects.
“The compound icariin is present in the horny goat weed in large amounts and its activity against (the enzyme) is lower compared to Viagra,” he said. “But the new molecule we synthesised from icariin is as good as Viagra against (the enzyme).”
So no need to carry all those watermelons around anymore eh?
See also: Watermelon man
See also: Recreational drugs
Posted: October 1st, 2008 under _Idle Thoughts.