A recent study has found a herbal treatment for impotency in men. Researchers have found out that the soft green heart-shaped leaf of the horny goat weed can be successfully used in place of the common anti-impotency pills. This study was led by Mario Dell'Agli, at the University of Milan.

The present research was done on four plants used as natural aphrodisiacs in traditional cultures. These plants were tested for the capability in inhibiting PDE5. Earlier studies have shown that the active compound of common anti-impotence pills, sildenafil, works by inhibiting the enzyme, phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5). PDE5 helps control blood flow to the penis, inhibiting PDE5 promotes male erection. Researchers found that only one plant epimedium brevicornum, known as horny goat weed fulfilled the criteria. Sildenafil is 80 times more effective at inhibiting PDE5 than icariin. 

The researchers extracted icariin from the plants, and produced six modified versions of it, which they tested on PDE5. Researchers found that the most efficient of these was compound 5 which work as well as Viagra. Researchers found that a drug made from compound 5 could also cause fewer side effects than Viagra. Moreover in addition to PDE5, sildenafil affects other phosphodiesterases, including some that are essential to sight and heart function. Hence people with heart problems are not advised to take the drug and patients who do take the drug sometimes suffer disturbances to their eyesight. 

The study till now has shown that the compound 5 does not affect other phosphodiesterases, meaning it may not have the same side effects as the common anti-impotence pills. Researchers concluded that taking this herb for curing impotency will be beneficial for people