ADULTERATION OF HERBAL PRODUCTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION WITH SILDENAFIL CITRATE IN UGANDA

Abstract

Background: Erectile dysfunction development is on the rise with over 200 million men projected to be affected by 2025 especially in Africa and other developing countries. The current medications like phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors which include sildenafil citrate are expensive thus inaccessible to most of the population. They also have numerous side effects and thus should be used only on the prescription of a trained health professional. Therefore, herbal preparations/products are relied on for therapy due to affordability and claim of fewer side effects. However, with the lack of quality standards and regulations for example in Uganda, their safety can be compromised.

Objective: This study evaluated herbal products sold to the public in Uganda for adulteration with sildenafil citrate.

Method: The study samples (20) were purchased from the open market in Kampala. Thin Layer Chromatography was carried out to detect the presence of sildenafil citrate on these samples using silica-coated aluminium plates in an ethyl acetate/methanol solvent system. Dragendorff's was used as a spray reagent, and the plates were visualized using a UV lamp. Sildenafil citrate was detected by comparing RF values of the standard and corresponding spots in the study samples.

Results: Ten per cent (2 out of 20) of herbal products were adulterated with sildenafil citrate.

Discussion: The percentage of adulteration is high as compared to similar studies elsewhere thus posing a potential health risk to the end-user.

Conclusion: There is the adulteration of herbal products used in the management of erectile dysfunction with sildenafil citrate.

Recommendation: The findings call for the establishment of routine quality analysis and strict regulations of herbal products in Uganda.