


Although many synthetic drugs are available and/or used to treat these problems, some of the drawbacks for these drugs include them being expensive and also their ability to provoke serious adverse effects, effective natural treatments are therefore still in demand. Oligozoospermia, sexual, and ejaculatory dysfunction are further responsible for inability to conceive in numerous cases. Main factors that decrease the probability of conception in the female partner are frequently congenital, immunological, iatrogenic, or endocrine cause.

Although further figures for this decade are still awaited, it is certain that stressful life style has enhanced the number of subject’s suffering from one form of sexual dysfunction or the other. Male reproductive capacity was found to be deficient in nearly 50% of infertile couples according to a study carried out by the World Health Organization in 1987. 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. The present review provides an overview of the herbs and their active molecule with claims for improvement of sexual behaviour. Data on their pharmacological activity, mechanism of action, and toxicity are reported. Phytoconstituents with known structures have been classified in appropriate chemical groups and the active crude extracts have been tabulated. 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. Review of refereed journals and scientific literature available in electronic databases and traditional literature available in India was extensively performed.

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. 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.
