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Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antidiabetic activity of leaf extracts of Viscum album from four different plant hosts were carried out using standard procedures. The results of the phytochemical screening revealed that the different leaf extracts vary in their phytochemical constituents depending on the plant host. Moreso, all the leaf extracts of Viscum album demonstrated significant (p<0.001) lowering of blood glucose level (BGL) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The leaf extract of V. album from Dennettia tripetala exhibited the highest antidiabetic activity than the other extracts followed by Citrus sinensis and Pisium guajava and their activities were more pronounced than that of standard drug, glibenclamide during acute study. On prolonged treatment, Viscum album leaf extracts from C. sinensis (VAC ) and P. guajava (VAP) had comparably higher antidiabetic effects than the other extracts and glibenclamide. These were followed by that from Dacroydes edulis (VAD) while Dennettia tripetala (VADT) had the lowest antidiabetic effect. Although V. album possesses antidiabetic property, its antidiabetic efficacy depends on its phytochemical constituents which in turn depends on the plant host.

Erectile dysfunction is the repeated inability to sustain erection firm enough for sexual intercourse while an aphrodisiac is an agent (food/drug) that arouses sexual activity. Various factors affect sexual performance in men, and include; psychological, hormonal abnormalities, aging, penile injury, chronic diseases, lifestyle, medications and radiation. Aphrodisiac medicinal plants could elicit their effect by providing essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and amino acids or could improve blood flow to the penile tissues, e.g. Kaempferia parviflora which could inhibit phosphodiesterase enzyme (PDE-5). Some medicinal plants stimulate or act on the central nervous system to derive their aphrodisiac effects, e.g. Pausinystalia yohimbe due to the presence of an alkaloid yohimbine. Medicinal plants could increase the serum level of cholesterol, testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone and improving the overall male reproductive health. The aim of this research is to review the role of medicinal plants in the management of erectile disorders in men, which could lead to discovery of novel chemical scaffolds for the synthesis of potent aphrodisiac agents. Natural products particularly aphrodisiac medicinal plants remain an important source of new drugs, new drug leads and new chemical entities allowing the design, rational planning of new drug biomimetic, discovery of new therapeuticproperties not yet attributed to known compounds and synthesis development.

Buchholzia coriacea Engl. is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Capparidaceae. It has antimicrobial, anthelmintic, antidiabetic and antihypercholesterol activities.  The aim of this study was to employ the quality control parameters in the evaluation of the leaf of B. coriacea. The plant leaves were collected, air dried, pulverized and stored in a clean glass container. Standard procedures were carried out to obtain the microscopic features of the fresh and powdered samples, micromeritic, chemomicroscopy, fluorescence properties, soluble extractive values, moisture contents and ash values.  The results of the microscopic study using fresh and powdered leaf samples revealed the presence of anomocytic stomata on the abaxial surface (hypostomatic) with mean length of 31.8 ± 0.6 cm. The cell shape was polygonal and straight anticlinal cell wall pattern. Results of the micromeritic properties of the powdered sample showed bulk volume of 31.00± 0.70cm, tapped volume of 25.1± 0.20 cm, bulk density of 0.32 ± 0.01g/m, tapped density of 0.39± 0.01g/ml, flow rate of 2.2 ± 0.08g/s, angle of repose of 26.1 ± 1.3 degrees, Carr’s index of 18.9± 1.35 %, Hausner’s ratio of 1.23 ± 0.02, pH of 8.0 when cold and 8.2 when hot for the powdered sample liquid extract. The results of the chemomicroscopic study revealed the presence of lignin, mucilage, calcium oxalate crystals, oil, calcium carbonate, but starch was absent. Results for the ethanol-soluble extractive value was 7 ± 0.00%    , water-soluble extractive value was 14 ± 0.00%   and methanol-soluble extractive value was 3 ± 0.00%  for the powdered samples. Results for the moisture content was 10.3 ± 0.00% , total ash values was 6.3± 0.00% , acid-insoluble ash value was 1 ± 0.00% , water-soluble ash value was 3±0.00%  and sulfated ash values was 7.5 ± 0.00% . In conclusion, the above evaluation methods and parameters there in could be used to identify and authenticate both the fresh and powdered crude drug product of Buchholzia coriacea.