Heavy Metal Concentration of Aphrodisiac Herbs Locally Sold in the South-Eastern Region of Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, Aphrodisiac herbs as well as other herbal medicines are hawked on the roadside, sold in stores and most of them are not certified by relevant Drug Agencies to be fit for human consumption. They lack manufacturing dates, Expiry dates, Batch number and any information about the chemical composition of such herbs. The buyers of such drugs patronize the black markets in their bid to give their partners maximum sexual gratification. It is no longer irregular to see sellers of such herbs moving around on foot or in vehicles in the streets marketing their various merchandize without any sort of restriction. Married men purchase these herbs to satisfy their wives and mistresses; Wives also purchase these herbs on behalf of their men; Youths who aren't married also purchase these herbs to exhibit their sexual prowess to their peers and friends. This research examined qualitatively and quantitatively the Lead and Cadmium concentrations in twelve locally sold Aphrodisiac herbs in South Eastern region of Nigeria. From the result obtained, 100% of the samples were within the lead permissible limit and 83.33% of the samples were also within the cadmium permissible limit as stipulated by the World Health Organization. It is recommended that Nigeria as well as other African countries should incorporate these herbs into the National healthcare System because there is an urgent need for quality assurance, safety and standardization of these herbs for the benefit of the consumers.

Full text

Pharmaceutical Science
and Technology
2019; 3(1): 22-26
http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/pst
doi: 10.11648/j.pst.20190301.13
ISSN: 2640-4532 (Print); ISSN: 2640-4540 (Online)
Heavy Metal Concentration of Aphrodisiac Herbs Locally
Sold in the South-Eastern Region of Nigeria
Iwuozor Kingsley Ogemdi
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Email address:
To cite this article:
Iwuozor Kingsley Ogemdi. Heavy Metal Concentration of Aphrodisiac Herbs Locally Sold in the South-Eastern Region of Nigeria.
Pharmaceutical Science and Technology. Vol. 3, No. 1, 2019, pp. 22-26. doi: 10.11648/j.pst.20190301.13
Received: October 15, 2018; Accepted: August 12, 2019; Published: August 28, 2019
Abstract:
In Nigeria, Aphrodisiac herbs as well as other herbal medicines are hawked on the roadside, sold in stores and
most of them are not certified by relevant Drug Agencies to be fit for human consumption. They lack manufacturing dates,
Expiry dates, Batch number and any information about the chemical composition of such herbs. The buyers of such drugs
patronize the black markets in their bid to give their partners maximum sexual gratification. It is no longer irregular to see
sellers of such herbs moving around on foot or in vehicles in the streets marketing their various merchandize without any sort
of restriction. Married men purchase these herbs to satisfy their wives and mistresses; Wives also purchase these herbs on
behalf of their men; Youths who aren’t married also purchase these herbs to exhibit their sexual prowess to their peers and
friends. This research examined qualitatively and quantitatively the Lead and Cadmium concentrations in twelve locally sold
Aphrodisiac herbs in South Eastern region of Nigeria. From the result obtained, 100% of the samples were within the lead
permissible limit and 83.33% of the samples were also within the cadmium permissible limit as stipulated by the World Health
Organization. It is recommended that Nigeria as well as other African countries should incorporate these herbs into the
National healthcare System because there is an urgent need for quality assurance, safety and standardization of these herbs for
the benefit of the consumers.
Keywords:
Aphrodisiac, Heavy Metals, Lead, Cadmium, Herbal Medicine, South-East, Nigeria
1. Introduction
The emergence of westernization in Africa for many years
has not been able to thrown them off the custom and
traditions they hold dear to themselves. Some of them still
enjoy the health and satisfaction their traditional herbs
provide them and teach their generations to do so because
even their fathers before them sourced refuge in these herbs.
It is also her tradition to satisfy their wives sexually if they
do not want to lose their respect, prestige and honour in the
eyes of their life partners. They envy the stories of how their
ancestors were able to satisfy their wives even at hold age but
in this present generation, some can’t even boast of being
able to fix the sexual needs of their partners once they have
exceeded the age of sixty (60).
An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire.
Many foods, drinks, and behaviours have had a reputation for
making sex more attainable and/or pleasurable. The name
comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexuality and
love, and substances are derived from plant, animal or
mineral and since the time immemorial the have been the
passion of man. Men and women alike have continued to use
aphrodisiacs whether or not these drugs have any scientific
basis of truly improving sexual satisfaction without regards
to their composition [1]. For centuries men and women have
attempted to enhance their sexual experiences with a variety
of chemicals. There is a rich history in all cultures of using
substances derived from plants and animals, as well as
synthetic materials, to change the sexual experience.
Aphrodisiac can be classified by their mode of action into
three types, those that can increase libido, potency or sexual
pleasure [1].
Sex-drive is a biological need or craving that inspires
individuals to seek out and become receptive to sexual
experiences and sexual pleasure. Chronic illness/disorder
such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, high-blood
pressure, enlarged prostates (in men), Parkinson’s disease
and cancer can have serious effect on biological drive and

Pharmaceutical Science and Technology 2019; 3(1): 22-26 23
psychological motivation for sexual desire, functioning and
response of an individual [2].
Plant accumulates a number of mineral elements essential
to human nutrition, though it equally accumulates other
mineral elements such as Cd, Co and Ag, which are in no
direct use to humans but injurious to health. Heavy metals
are defined as those groups of elements that have specific
weights higher than 5 g/cm3. A number of them (Co, Fe, Mn,
Mo, Ni, Zn and Cu) are essential micronutrients and are
required for normal growth and take part in redox reactions,
electron transfers and other important metabolic processes in
plants. Metals which are considered non-essential (Pb, Cd,
Cr, Hg, etc.) are potentially highly toxic to plants [3].
Herbal medicines also called botanical medicines or
phytomedicines, refer to herbs, herbal materials, herbal
preparations, and finished herbal products that contain parts
of plants or other plant materials as active ingredients. They
are plant derived materials and preparations with therapeutic
or other human health benefits, which contain either raw or
processed ingredients from one or more plants, inorganic
materials or animal origin. Herbal medicine preparations are
developed and created drugs by the modern pharmaceutical
industry [1, 4].
Heavy metals could pose serious health hazard to human
health as these metals are not friendly to most of the major
organs such as kidney, liver, renal tract, cardiovascular,
reproductive and others. The uptake and bioaccumulation of
heavy metals in herbs and other plants materials are
influenced by a number of factors such as climate,
atmospheric deposition, concentration in the soil, the nature
of the soil on which the herbs are grown and the degree of
maturity of the plant at the time of harvest. Long-term uses of
treated or untreated wastewater, plants grown along heavy
traffic ways, and previous dumpsites and other anthropogenic
source of heavy metals which includes the addition of
organic manures waste sludge, fertilizers and pesticides
which may affect the uptake of heavy metals by modifying
the physicochemical properties of the soil such as pH,
organic matter and bioavailability of the heavy metals in the
soil are also other factors. Farmlands near heavy traffic high-
ways are exposed to atmospheric pollution in the form of
metal containing aerosols. These aerosols can be deposited
on soil and are absorbed by plants leaves, barks and fruits
[2].
Globally, people develop unique indigenous healing
traditions adapted and defined by their culture, beliefs and
environment, which satisfied the health needs of their
communities over centuries [1]. The increasing widespread
use of traditional medicine has prompted the WHO to
promote the integration of traditional medicine and
complimentary or alternative medicine into the national
health care systems of some countries and to encourage the
development of national policy and regulations as essential
indicators of the level of integration of such medicine within
a national health care system. The plant materials include
seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark or flowers. Sexual and
Reproductive health right is a fundamental human right. The
right of expression of sexual activity should have been a
universal basic human right of all. This however is not
obtained in all countries of the world. The level of expression
of this social right is highly influenced by societal and
cultural influences. Where sexual behaviour is freely
expressed, such as in some Western societies, individual`s
sexual activities are accepted [1].
When the blame game is being played, an African man
may hold the coming of the western culture (Food, Drugs,
Cosmetics, e.t.c.) responsible for the reason they are unable
to satisfy their spouses at old age. To some of them, the way
out is to go back to the tradition of their ancestors by taking
herbs to help them regain their pride in the eyes of their
spouse. Due to ignorance, they do not know that Drug-Drug
Interaction and Drug-Food Interaction, sometimes makes
pharmaceutical drugs lose their potency. Another reason that
can be linked to this infertility is the abuse of certain drugs
that makes them seem like they don’t function any longer.
All these and many more has led to an increase in the
black market for traditional herbs that increases a person’s
sexual ability. In Nigeria, these herbs are hawked on the
roadside, sold in stores and most of them are not certified by
relevant Drug Agencies to be fit for human consumption.
They lack manufacturing dates, Expiry dates, Batch number
and any information about the chemical composition of such
herbs. The buyers of such drugs patronize the black markets
in their bid to give their partners maximum sexual
gratification. It is no longer irregular to see sellers of such
herbs moving around on foot or in vehicles in the streets
marketing their various merchandize without any sort of
restriction. Married men purchase these herbs to satisfy their
wives and mistresses; Wives also purchase these herbs on
behalf of their men; Youths who aren’t married also purchase
these herbs to exhibit their sexual prowess to their peers and
friends. This is one of the reasons why there is an increase in
the incidence of rape in the country.
In South Africa, Heavy metal poisoning from lead,
mercury and cadmium has been repeatedly associated with
traditional medicines. Between 1991 and 1995, the
Johannesburg Forensic Database revealed 206 cases of death
in which traditional remedies were either implicated to be the
cause of death or were found to be present in cases of
poisoning with unknown substances [5]. This doesn’t mean
traditional herbs are inefficient and poisonous but it points
out the harm its deregulation and neglect by responsible
government parastatals has caused.
Previous works by researchers on the determination of
heavy metals on traditional herbs in Nigeria do exist, for
example; Samali, et al. analyzed for the Heavy Metals
concentration in Kano [2]; MacDonals, et al., determined the
Heavy metals concentration of some polyherbal products
from Lagos state [6]; Umar, et al., determined quantitatively
for the presence of heavy metals in some commonly
consumed herbal medicines in Kano state [7].
This research was embarked upon to throw light on the
possible health effect as well as the quantitative
determination of two heavy metals; Lead (Pb) and Cadmium

24 Iwuozor Kingsley Ogemdi: Heavy Metal Concentration of Aphrodisiac Herbs Locally Sold in the South-Eastern Region of Nigeria
(Cd) present in Aphrodisiac herbs.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Sampling
The samples were collected from four different cities
(Awka, Owerri, Enugu and Uturu) in South-East, Nigeria.
They were purchased locally from vendors in these cities. All
the herbs purchased were in liquid form meant for oral
administration and were all unregistered by regulating bodies
such as NAFDAC and SON. They were present in bottles
that didn’t have any information concerning the company
such as Company’s name, NAFDAC number, Batch number,
Manufacturing Date, Expiry Date, e.t.c. Three samples each
were bought from the different vendors in each city. The total
samples analyzed were twelve in number and were labeled
A1, A2, A3, O1, O2, O3, E1, E2, E3, U1, U2, and U3.
2.2. Preparation of the Samples
All the reagents used were of Analytical grade. The twelve
samples were prepared for Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
(AAS) analysis. The sample was thoroughly mixed by
shaking, and 100ml of it is transferred into a glass beaker of
250ml volume, to which 5ml of concentrated nitric acid is
added and heated to boil till the volume was reduced to about
15-20ml, by adding conc. nitric acid in increments of 5ml till
all the residue is completely dissolved. The mixture was
cooled, transferred and made up to 100ml using metal free
distilled water. The sample was aspirated into the oxidizing
air-acetylene flame. When the aqueous sample was aspirated,
the sensitivity for 1% absorption was observed [8].
The samples were then analyzed quantitatively for the
presence of Lead and Cadmium using an AA240 Atomic
Absorption Spectrophotometer.
3. Results
Table 1. Quantitative result of Lead in the samples.
Samples Pb Concentrations (µg/g)
A1 0.7340
A2 0.9276
A3 0.3675
O1 0.4357
O2 0.6168
O3 0.4789
E1 0.6863
E2 0.8648
E3 0.7461
U1 0.4332
U2 0.3129
U3 0.7689
Table 2. Quantitative result of Cadmium in the samples.
Samples Cd Concentrations (µg/g)
A1 0.1267
A2 0.3476
A3 0.0084
O1 0.0062
Samples Cd Concentrations (µg/g)
O2 0.0048
O3 0.0087
E1 0.2116
E2 0.3127
E3 0.2455
U1 0.1042
U2 0.0766
U3 0.0932
Figure 1. Graph showing the Quantitative Concentrations result of
Cadmium in the samples.
Figure 2. Graph showing the Quantitative Concentrations of Lead in the
samples.
4. Discussion
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal, well known for its
occupational health risk, and cadmium (as a pollutant of air
and water) is an increasing public health concern.
Contamination of ground water (wells) and food are the other
predominant sources of environmental pollution Cadmium
accumulates in the human body a half-life every year.
Though it is recognized as a neurotoxic and nephrotoxic
metal in developed countries, there is not much awareness of
its toxicity in developing countries [4].
According to WHO (1998), the permissible limit of
cadmium in herbal medicines is 0.3µg/g [9]. From the result
obtained, all the samples were within permissible limits apart
from sample A2 and E2 which had concentrations of
0.3476µg/g and 0.3127µg/g respectively. 16.67% of the

Pharmaceutical Science and Technology 2019; 3(1): 22-26 25
samples analyzed had their concentrations of cadmium
within permissible range as stated by the World Health
Organization. The value obtained is greater than that obtained
by MacDonald, et al., in Lagos state [6], Umar, et al., [7]. It
is less than the result obtained for cadmium determination of
Medicinal Herbs by Mousavi, et al. [10], and the alarming
concentrations obtained by Okem, et al., [5] and Samali, et
al., [2] as high as 2.2µg/g and 3.23 µg/g respectively for the
herbs analyzed in South Africa and Kano State, Nigeria.
Cadmium is known to exert toxic effects on the kidneys,
the skeletal system and the respiratory system and is
classified as a human carcinogen. Cadmium is known to
accumulate in the human kidney for a relatively long time,
from 20 to 30 years, and, at high doses, is also known to
produce health effects on the respiratory system and has been
associated with bone dis-ease. Cadmium has a negative effect
on enzymatic systems of cells with its ability to substitute for
other metal ions (mainly Zn
2+
, Cu
2+
and Ca
2+
) in
metalloenzymes and has a strong affinity for biological
structures containing sulfhydryl (−SH) groups, e.g. proteins,
enzymes and nucleic acids [4, 5].
Lead is a ubiquitous toxicant. Lead poisoning is an
insidious disease that can result in developmental delays,
behavioral disorders and irreversible brain damage. The
major signs and symptoms of lead poisoning are pallor,
gingival lead line, gastrointestinal disorder, and anemia, renal
and neurological symptoms (peripheral neuropathy, ataxia
and memory loss) in adults. Chronic exposure to lead is
associated with renal dysfunction whilst, chronic lead
toxicity will also lead to sterility in adults. Coincidently, lead
poisoning from traditional remedies mainly used for
enhancing sexual performance has been reported and lead has
adverse effects on the male reproductive system [4]. Lead
(Pb) poisoning has been reported to have several clinical
manifestations in the nervous, haematic, renal,
gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and
endocrine systems. Lead poisoning is known to elicit
insidious conditions that can result in developmental delays,
behavioral disorders and irreversible brain damage [5].
According to WHO (1998), the permissible limit of lead in
herbal medicines is 10µg/g [9]. From the result obtained,
100% of the samples were within permissible limits as stated
by WHO.
The range of concentrations obtained from the samples
(0.3129-0.9276) is within range with the quantitative
determination of lead in herbal plants by Ghani, et al., [10]
but greater than the experimental result obtained by Umar, et
al., in Kano State [7] and MacDonald, et al., in Lagos state
[6]. Concentrations of lead by Samali, et al., in Kano State,
Nigeria [2]; Okem, et al., in South Africa [5]; and Mousavi,
et al., in Iran [10]; were reported to be as high as
35.2410µg/g, 14.910µg/g, and 52.7410µg/g.
Lead fumes and dust generated from small domestic
lead scrap smelters, which are typically located within
close proximity to homes, pose an exceptional health
hazard to children and adults living near these operations.
The neurotoxic effects of lead in experimental models has
been extensively investigated over the last two decades.
Incidence of high biliary concentration of some heavy
metals including Lead may be a factor in the carcinoma of
the gall bladder [4]. Populations are defined as sensitive
according to intrinsic (age, sex, and genetic) and extrinsic
(external exposure sources) factors or a combination of
the two. Thought to be the most serious diseases of the
environmental and occupational origin, lead toxicity
affects the most sensitive subpopulations – infants,
children fetus (via maternal exposure) and pregnant
women, all of who m are at risk to the subtle adverse
health effects of chronic low dose lead exposure.
Adolescents, especially carriers of porphyria genes are at a
high risk to lead toxicity [4]. Lead is well known to inhibit
the biosynthesis of heme, and consequently of hemoglobin
and decrease the life span of circulating red blood cells.
Iron deficiency and lead toxicity can be synergistic and
potentially devastating; up to 50% more lead may be
absorbed in children with iron deficiency. The developing
fetus is at maximum risk of lead toxicity. Exposure of
pregnant women can transfer significant amount of this
metal to the developing fetus which may result in
premature birth, low birth weight or even abortion. Infants
born to mothers exposed to high level of lead show
significant signs of neurological deficits [4].
5. Conclusion
In Nigeria, Aphrodisiac herbs as well as other herbal
medicines are hawked on the roadside, sold in stores and
most of them are not certified by relevant Drug Agencies to
be fit for human consumption. They lack manufacturing
dates, Expiry dates, Batch number and any information about
the chemical composition of such herbs. The buyers of such
drugs patronize the black markets in their bid to give their
partners maximum sexual gratification. Two heavy metals;
Lead and Cadmium were analyzed in this research
qualitatively and quantitatively in twelve locally sold herbal
aphrodisiacs solutions. 100% of the samples were within the
lead permissible limit and 83.33% of the samples were also
within the cadmium permissible limit as stipulated by the
World Health Organization. Nigeria as well as other African
countries should incorporate these herbs into the National
healthcare System because there is an urgent need for quality
assurance, safety and standardization of these herbs for the
benefit of the consumers.
Orcid
Kingsley Ogemdi Iwuozor: 0000-0002-1161-2147
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