Clerodendrum capitatum, a Nigerian herb that threatens pharmaceuticals

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Clerodendrum capitatum (Clerodendron), a plant native from Tropical African region that belongs to the Verbenaceae family, locally known as "Gung" in Sudan [1], "Pipe Tree" [2] and Mashayi[4], that grows between 0.2 to 2 meters high, could be the new source of a new family of natural PDE5 inhibitors, the cellular enzymes used as a base for some of the most famous drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, as Sidenafil, used for its vasodilatory and PDE5 inhibitory properties.

In Nigeria, Clerodendrum capitatum (Clerodendron)is used to treat diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension [10], and in Sudan it has been used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction [1,8,9], however and due to its vasodilatory and PDE5 inhibitory effects it may well be the new source of drugs against erectile dysfunction.

CLERODENDRUM CAPITATUM

Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Clerodendrum
Common name: Gung [1], Pipe tree [2], Mashayi [4].