ASSESSMENT OF TRADITIONAL HERBS AS POTENTIAL REMEDY FOR MALE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

A Case Study of Zanzibar – The United Republic of Tanzania




By

Yussuf H. Kombo, Twahir A. Haji and Said A. Fakih





July, 2009
Volume 1






TAF Paper Series No. 1/2009/TAFZ

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Abstract

The Erectile Dysfunctions (EDs) are a common male reproductive disorder in Zanzibar. The EDs which associates with sexual inefficiency and impotence usually cause a state of social unrest in most families. The lack of knowledge and inadequate research on the cause, effect and solution to this problem is a major challenge ahead of us. Detailed qualitative studies are required to investigate the potential effect of traditional medicines, herbal medicines and ethnobotacal on sexual performance, bearing in mind of their availability and affordability to a wider community. This study aimed at identification of potential herbs used in curative and management of EDs including the sexual impotence in man. A one month quck reconnaissance study was conducted in Zanzibar Town, Kiwengwa and a sample of selected villages around the main island of Zanzibar (Unguja) involved direct and indirect interviews, discussion and talks with experienced key informants including herbalists, botanists, foresters, agronomists, local villagers and researchers. The questions were focused on the knowledge of available plant spices used for treatment of EDs, methods applied in preparation and the dosage rates. A review of various documents related to this subject and field visits were also carried out.

The study revealed ove 66 plants used for treating the EDs in Zanzibar. However, this paper documuents 19 species namely; Senna petersiana, Ethulia conzonoides, Canthium zanzibarica, Senna siamea, Zingiber officinales, Flagelaria guineensis, Abrus precatorius, Anacardium occidentalis, Azadarachta indica, Bixa orellana, Myristica fragrans, Cocos nucifera, Deinbodia borbonica, Macphersonia gracilis, Vernonia zanzibarensis, Carica papaya, Capolobia goetzei, Todolia asiatica and Tragia furialis.

The study also shows that indigenous knowledge on the use of herbal plants is high in rural community but fairly unexploited. It was also observed that multiple uses of plants products (fruits, wood and amenity) can play enormous role in maintaining general community health apart from EDs. Finally, the results show that EDs, impotence and aphrodisiac can attack people of all ages (i.e. young, mature and aged) and wealthy status (rich and poor). Fortunately, the disorders could effectively be reduced by using most of local herbaceous plants.

The study results indicated that that in most cases mixed therapy is the main method of medicine preparation. Also the respondents agree that most of the plants except Coconut tree, Papaya, Ginger and Need tree are becoming rare in Zanzibar. Habitat destruction, overcutting due to development, unplanned settlements, and agriculture play greater role in humiliating the resources.

Eighty (80%) of the respondents admitted that most of young generation are not aware of the value of trees and thus school and mass education can be a solution to this.

The nineteen species identified in this study are not the only species that are used for this purpose in the islands. More than 66 potential species have been mentioned for this kind of management mostly in mixed therapy. This paper documents few as a starting point toward the efforts to documenting them. The study has also revealed that community knowledge is to very large extent depends on boiling plant parts as a common method in preparation of the medicines. Using powders and chewing is not very common although some species do well into this.

The use of traditional medicines in combating ED faces a lot of challenges as the world biodiversity is in danger of being wiped off. The global rate of deforestation and loss of biodiversity threats the herbal medication. In Zanzibar for instance the rate of deforestation the rich coral rag land is estimated to be 500 ha tree equivalent per year.

Most of the plants mentioned are found in the coral land and marginal land. However, the rate of deforestation threats their survival. The Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry (2008), explained that an increasing charcoal and fire wood crises have accelerated habitat alteration hence over harvesting is experienced in public lands, forest plantations, community managed areas and the mangroves. The annual deforestation are of 500ha equivalent is quite big in a small island state like Zanzibar and thus jeopardize The Ecological Values of coral thickets where most of endemic and near endemic species of flora and fauna are harbored.

The coastal forest of Zanzibar has numerous species, which contain medicinal as well as aesthetical values. Species such as Macphersonia gracilis, Fluggea virosa and Suregada zanzibarensis and Senna petersiana beside being potential for local herbal medicines, they have been playing crucial role in seaweed farming as their sticks are preferred because of their durability in sea waters.

Several studies on traditional medicines, herbal medicines and ethnobotacal surveys have been concluded in Zanzibar. However, deep study and documentation of plants useful for management of ED has not well been documented. Even though the following items can be of interest for this purposes namely i) The Cures of Jozani ( Kombo and Kitwana 1998), ii) The survey on Non-wood forest products and their contribution to Zanzibar economy (Kombo and colloquies 2008) and The useful and Ornamental Plants of Zanzibar and Pemba Williams R.O (1949).

The study recommends the following:

1) More studies on the role of flora and fauna in management of ED.
2) Indigenous knowledge on management of Ed should be given priority in the works of medicines.
3) International programmes to discourage factors that lead to ED should be in priority of national plans and development.
4) Conduct studies on the impact of coffee/caffeine and other stimulants eg rambutan, paper, chilies, ginger on Erectile Dysfunction.
5) Deep Studies on cultural measures to cure ED are essential
6) Establish and Develop farms of the most useful plants for treating ED

Important Reference
Koenders, L (1992): Flora of Pemba Island. A check list of plant species / Wildlife conservation society of Tanzania. Publication Number 2

Mugisha MK and Origa H O (2005): Traditional herbal remedies used in the management of sexual impotence and erectile dysfunction in western Uganda. African health Science Vol. 5 No.1 March 2005.

. Williams R.O (1949): The useful and Ornamental Plants of Zanzibar and Pemba

Ward, E. A (2000): The erectile dysfunction revolution. Published in Nursing Standard. 15(11):34-40, November 29, 2000.
· Hatzimouratidis. K (2006): Sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction: an overview of the clinical evidence. 2nd Department of Urology, Papageorgiou General Hospital, and Center for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. http://www.dovepress.com/sildenafil-in-the-treatment-of-erectile-dysfunction-an-overview-of-the-peer-reviewed-article.

· C Millett, L M Wen, C Rissel, A Smith, J Richters, A Grulich and R de Visser (2006): Smoking and erectile dysfunction: findings from a representative sample of Australian men: Health Promotion Unit (Eastern Zone), Sydney South West Area Health Service, NSW, Australia; Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia; National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of NSW, Australia. Health Promotion Unit (Eastern Zone), Sydney South West Area Health Service, Level 9 North, King George V Building, Missenden Road Camperdown NSW 2050, Australia.

· Ultimateherbal (2007): http://www.ultimate-herbal.com/ED

· http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090204172216.htm

. Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry (2008): Concept note VILLAGE AFORESTATION PROGRAM FOR ZANZIBAR ISLANDS

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Researchers Contacts
1) Mr. Yussuf H Kombo (MSc.)
PO Box 4752, Zanzibar – Tanzania
Emails: yhkombo@yahoo.com, komboyh@yahoo.com
Web and blog: http://komboherbs.blogspot.com/

http://www.dccff.com/

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