Ethnobotanical survey and pharmacological evaluation of aphrodisiac plants used in the department of Oumé (Central-West Côte d’Ivoire)
Paper Details
Ethnobotanical survey and pharmacological evaluation of aphrodisiac plants used in the department of Oumé (Central-West Côte d’Ivoire)
Abstract
Erectile dysfunction is a major public health issue. The aim of this study was to identify local aphrodisiac plants in order to evaluate their pharmacological properties. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in the department of Oumé using the snowball sampling technique. Subsequently, various secondary metabolites were identified through tube analysis. For the pharmacological tests, rats were divided into control and experimental groups receiving orally aqueous extracts of Turraea heterophylla and Buxus acutata for 21 consecutive days. Sexual parameters (mounts, urogenital sniffing) were measured on days 7, 14, and 21, and serum testosterone levels were assessed on day 22 of the experiment. The ethnobotanical survey identified ten aphrodisiac species, divided into five morphological types: shrubs, trees, herbs, lianas, and fungi. Turraea heterophylla (31.5%) and Buxus acutata (27.8%) were the most frequently cited. The phytochemical study revealed the presence of polyphenols, tannins and saponins known for their aphrodisiac properties, in the aqueous extracts of the two plants. In rats treated with plant extracts, the frequency of urogenital sniffing and mounts increased significantly, particularly at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg. Serum testosterone levels showed a significant increase with Turraea heterophylla extracts, reaching 2.49 ± 0.21 and 5.69 ± 0.45 ng/mL, compared to 0.49 ± 2.85 ng/mL in the control group. Buxus acutata extracts produced the highest values, at 7.07 ± 0.44 and 9.35 ± 0.51 ng/mL. These results support the traditional use of these plants and highlight the need for further safety studies.
Akinmoladun FO, Komolafe TR, Farombi EO. 2022. Aframomum melegueta: phytochemistry and aphrodisiac potential. Phytomedicine Plus 2(4), 100123.
Azonbakin S, Dangbemey P, Osseni R, Yaude SA, Kora F, Adovoekpe D, Awede B. 2021. Enquête ethnobotanique sur les plantes utilisées dans le traitement de l’infertilité masculine au Benin. International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 15(4), 1667-1677.
Bekro YA, Mamyrbekova JA, Boua BB, Bi FT, Ehilé EE. 2007. Étude ethnobotanique et screening phytochimique de Caesalpinia benthamiana (Baill.) Herend. et Zarucchi (Caesalpiniaceae). Sciences & nature 4(2), 217-225.
Boua BB, Mamyrbekova-Bekro JA, Kouamé BA, Bekro YA. 2013. Criblage phytochimique et potentiel érectile de Turraea heterophylla de Côte d’Ivoire. Journal of Applied Biosciences 68, 5394-5403.
Chauhan NS, Sharma V, Dixit VK, Thakur M. 2014. A review on plants used for improvement of sexual performance and virility. BioMed research international, 44 p.
Dossou ME, Houessou GL, Lougbegnon OT, Tente AHB, Codjia JTC. 2012. Étude ethnobotanique des ressources forestières ligneuses de la forêt marécageuse d’Agonvè et terroirs connexes au Bénin. Tropicultura 30(1), 41–48.
Erhabor JO, Idu M. 2017. Aphrodisiac potentials of the ethanol extract of Aloe barbadensis Mill. root in male Wistar rats. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 17(360), 1–9.
Fah MA, Coulibaly SS, Kouakou KL, Coulibaly FA, Koné MW, Zoro Bi IA. 2019. Influence of the type of organ, the origin and regeneration method of Euadenia trifoliolata (Capparaceae) Schum & Thom. Oliv. On Sexual Behavior of rats. Journal of Medicine and Biology 2(1), 5-16.
Gebrie E, Chane E, Mengistie BA. 2026. Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and its associated factors among hypertensive men in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sexual Medicine Reviews 14(2), 201–215.
Hodge HC, Sterner JH. 1949. Tabulation of toxicity classes. American Industrial Hygiene Association Quarterly 10(4), 93–96.
Moundipa PF, Ngouela S, Kamtchouing P, Tantchou J, Dimo T, Jatsa HB. 1999. Effects of Zingiber officinalis and Basella alba on reproductive function in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 65(2), 133–139.
Moyabi. 2015. Evaluation des propriétés androgéniques de Notobuxus acuminata Hutch. (Buxaceae) et de Termitomyces schimperi heim (Lyophyllaceae), deux espèces utilisées contre les troubles érectiles à Doka, département de Oumé (Côte d’ivoire). Mémoire de Master de Botanique et Phytothérapie; Université Nangui-Abrogoua ; Côte d’Ivoire, 43 p.
OECD. 2001. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCDE) 423, OECD guidelines for testing chemical products, Acute oral toxicity – Acute toxicity class method. 2001, Lignes directrices pour les essais de produits chimiques (oecd-ilibrary.org). Accessed August 25, 2026.
Okeke CU, Ndukwe HC, Edeoga HO, Okwu DE, Mbaebie BO. 2024. Phytochemical and aphrodisiac properties of Piper guineensis extract in male rats. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine 21(2), 0021.
Ondele R, Ossibi AWE, Bassoueka DJ, Peneme MB, Itou RDE, Massengo AB, Abena AA. 2015. Toxicité aigüe et effet aphrodisiaque de l’extrait aqueux de Rauvolfia obscura K. Schum (Apocynaceae). Afrique Science : Revue Internationale des Sciences et Technologie 11(3), 172-180.
Opa A. 2003. Stratégies thérapeutiques actuelles dans la prise en charge médicale de l’impuissance sexuelle à propos de 104 patients reçus au service d’Urologie du chu de Cocody de 1995 à 2001. Thèse d’exercice. Faculté de Pharmacie, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 85 p.
Rukundo R. 2007. Contribution à l’étude androgénique de Nauclea latifolia (Thèse d’État de Docteur en Médecine Vétérinaire). École Inter-États des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires (EISMV), Dakar, Sénégal, 129 p.
Saffati G, Riveros C, Obuekwe O, Howell S, Deebel N, Kohn T, Muthigi A. 2026. Associations between erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, and cardiometabolic risk: an age stratified, propensity-matched cohort study. International Journal of Impotence Research 1-8.
Salonia A, Montorsi F, Capogrosso P, Dehò F, Longoni M, Bertini A, Schifano N, Zaffuto E, Maggio P, Rossi P, Baldini S, Carcano G, Antonini G. 2023. Erectile dysfunction and pharmacological management: current evidence. Nature Reviews Urology 20(1), 45–60.
Sarnoski S, Machado F, Rahal A. 2026. Global prevalence of erectile dysfunction in adult men: A systematic review (2010–2024). Journal of Sexual Medicine 23(4), 512–523.
Sofidiya MO, Oloruntola OM, Sofola I, Fageyinbo MS. 2016. Antinociceptive activity of Euadenia trifoliolata (Schum. & Thonn.) Oliv. leaves and roots in mice. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine 6(3), 289-293.
Suresh KP, Subramoniam A, Pushpangadan P. 2000. Aphrodisiac activity of Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. Ex Don extract in male mice. Indian Journal of Pharmacology 32(5), 300-304.
Talla C, Nga N, Ngoupayo J, Mpondo EM. 2021. Evaluation of the androgenic properties of the aqueous extract of the trunk bark of Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv.(Bignoniaceae) in male rats. Health Sciences and Disease 22(3), 60-68.
Tra Bi FH. 1997. Utilisation des plantes, par l’homme, dans les forêts classées du Haut-Sassandra et de Scio, en Côte d’Ivoire. Thèse de doctorat 3e cycle, Université d’Abidjan Cocody, 215 p.
Wankeu-Nya M, Watcho P, Nguelefack TB, Carro-Juarez M, Tapondjou L, Kamanyi A. 2014. Effects of Dracaena arborea (Dracaenaceae) on sexual dysfunction in 4 weeks hyperglycemic male rats. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 7(8), 609-619.
Watcho P, Kamtchouing P, Sokeng SD, Moundipa PF, Tantchou J. 2004. Androgenic and aphrodisiac effects of Mondia whitei roots in male rats. Asian Journal of Andrology 6(3), 269–272.
Watcho P, Wankeu-Nya M, Nguelefack TB, Tapondjou L, Teponno R, Kamanyi A. 2007. Pro-sexual effects of Dracaena arborea (wild) link (Dracaenaceae) in sexually experienced male rats. Pharmacologyonline 1, 400-419.
Moyabi Any Georges Armel*, Kpan Wokapeu Blaise, Tra Bi Zamblé Fidèle, Coulibaly Founzégué Amadou, Koné Mamidou Witabouna, 2026. Ethnobotanical survey and pharmacological evaluation of aphrodisiac plants used in the department of Oumé (Central-West Côte d’Ivoire). Int. J. Biosci., 29(4), 38-47.
Copyright © 2026 by the Authors. This article is an open access article and distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license.