Abstract:

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is expected to affect over 200 million men by 2025, mainly in developing countries. Prescription drugs like Sildenafil and Tadalafil tablets are approved for treatment, but herbal therapy has gained popularity as an alternative treatment. Even though the market for herbal medicine is growing every year, there have still been reports of adulterants of these conventional drugs being found in herbal medicines. Adulteration with synthetic drugs can be fatal, especially if those drugs can interact with other prescription drugs or result in other medical disorders. Therefore, detecting the presence and quantity of sildenafil and Tadalafil in herbal medicine is important.

Methodology: A total of forty (40) samples of herbal products for ED were collected from different streets of Mwanza City. Herbal medicine samples were prepared using methanol solvent alongside the standard references of sildenafil and Tadalafil in a Hexane/ethyl acetate/ methanol solvent system. Samples were analyzed using HPTLC Sildenafil and Tadalafil were detected by comparing RF values of the standard and corresponding spots in the study samples.

Results: Out of 40 samples more than half of the samples were found to be adulterated 25 samples (62.5%). Of which Sildenafil (5%), Tadalafil (22.5%), Sildenafil+ Tadalafil (37.5%). Out of those adulterated samples, 8% of the adulterated samples contained an amount of sildenafil that exceeds the maximum recommended daily dose which is 100mg.

Conclusion: Herbal medicinal products used in the management of erectile dysfunction around Mwanza City are highly adulterated with sildenafil and Tadalafil which are synthetic drugs. This is a health risk to the consumer and therefore measures need to be put by establishing quality control and strict regulation of the herbal medicines.