Unravelling the names, origins and chemistry of “muthis” used for male sexual disorders in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The active chemical components in the Eriosema plants are two closely-related pyranoisoflavones. The Salacia species mentioned above are rich in triterpene quinone methides, far-removed from the pyranoisoflavones present in the Eriosema series. According to the current literature, the major quinone methide, pristimerin, is used for a variety of ailments, but the evidence that it is associated with male sexual disorders is very tenuous. This, of course, raises the question whether the quinone methides, and particularly pristimerin, have hitherto untested aphrodisiac-like properties, or whether unknown minor components in the plant are responsible for perceived (but untested) sex-related activity.