Plantain, like its peel, effective as libido booster —Experts

For years, plantain fruit pulp has been used as a natural remedy to manage poor libido or erectile dysfunction in men in traditional medicine. Now, scientists have confirmed that also matured unripe plantain peels could also serve the same purpose.

In a new study, researchers found water extract of unripe plantain peels inhibits key enzymes linked to poor libido and prevent oxidative stress in rats’ penile tissue.  The 2017 study was in the journal, Pharmceutical Biology.

Unripe plantain cooked or roasted has been proven over the years to induce, sustain and maintain erection. It also helps to make semen thick and increases sperm volume.

Unripe plantain also builds stronger bones been rich in calcium which is essential for the growth and building of strong bones and teeth. It also contains some chemical substances which are capable of protecting the walls of intestines and healing them in case of any wound.

In traditional medicine, plantain stem juice is also used for the treatment of urinary stones, nervous affectations like epilepsy, hysteria and in dysentery and diarrhoea.

Erectile dysfunction is a condition that affects a man’s ability to achieve or maintain an erection suitable for sex. The condition can affect men at any age, but with advancing age, its prevalence increases.

It is also common in men with cardiovascular disorders such as heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus and those that smoke cigarette.

Although there are medications available to reduce ED, some men prefer to take herbal supplements as an alternative. Many herbs show potential to be effective in improving men’s sexual function.

The researchers had tested the effectiveness of the water extracts of ripen and unripe plantain peels on key enzymes linked to poor libido in rat penile tissue harvested from 40 adult male Wistar rats.

They found that unripe plantain peels had higher inhibitory effect compared with the ripe plantain peel, but still sildenafil, what is sold as Viagra, had the highest effect. Also, its effect in improving libido was also dose dependent.

According to the researchers, unripe plantain peels contain chemical substances such as flavonoid as in high proportions that can support sexual stimulation.

Moreover, they pointed out that unripe plantain peels in useful in the treatment of hypertension and hypertensive-induced ED given that it is rich in chemical substances potent in lowering blood pressure.

The researchers, however, submitted that although unripe plantain peels extract appeared to be the most potent, it may serve as source of nutraceticals in the treatment of poor libido.

Previously, scientists have found listed common foods that could boost libido to include watermelon, onions, nutmeg, ginger or tonic root, date palm, tropical almond, goat head, alligator pepper, tomatoes, banana, velvet bean (werepe in Yoruba and agbala in Ibo), and fluted pumpkin (ugu in Ibo).

Italian scientists in a study published in the journal Urology stated that men who suffer from mild to moderate erectile dysfunction may benefit from drinking watermelon juice.

In a study, they said that watermelon contains a high concentration of citrulline, an amino acid that can improve blood flow to the penis without the side effects of Viagra.

Fluted pumpkin, similarly, a study published in the African Journal of Biotechnology suggests could improve blood quality and sperm quality as well as support good blood sugar control in the body.

The researchers based at the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin attributed the significant increases in the sperm motility, viability and counts by fluted pumpkin to the actions of some of its active ingredients, which have well-documented sperm boosting activity.

Also, researchers have shown that Mucuna pruriens seeds increase spermatogenesis and weight of the testes, seminal vesicles, and prostate in the albino rat.

1. pruriens stimulated sexual function in normal male rats which was observed by increase in mounting frequency, intromission frequency, and ejaculation latency.