Metal content determination of some sexual dysfunction medicine samples in northern Nigeria

Abstract

Essential minerals are those that are necessary for normal physiological and biological functions of human body. They act as catalysts such that only trace amount are necessary for cellular function. The study analyzed nine (9) different sex-drive herbal preparations used in the North-western part of Nigeria for essential minerals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric (AAS) method in order to ascertain relationship between sex-drive and the mineral content of these herbal medicines. The result obtained shows the range of the mean concentration of Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn to be (231.13-440.64)µg/g, (7.74 - 25.93)µg/g, (14.09 - 59.66)µg/g and (6.86 -74.41)µg/g respectively. The presence of Fe, Cu and Zn indicated the potential role of these herbal preparations in alleviation of sexual dysfunction problems and serves as sex-drivers. The average concentration of Cu and Zn obtained in the samples were above the World Health Organization (WHO) and US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) permissible limit in herbal drugs as Cu (20ppm) and Zn (50ppm). The consumers’ of these products need to be cautioned otherwise the tendency of overload which will further result to health hazard is certain.

Keywords: Herbal medicine, Sex-drive, Essential minerals