London: For centuries, many herbs have been claimed to boost people's sex drive. Add one more to the list - fenugreek, a spinach-like leaf plant which grows in India and other Asian countries, and used in curries, say researchers.
Fenugreek, 'methi' in Hindi, is an integral part of cuisine across India. In fact, India is said to be the largest producer of this herb in the world with Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana and Punjab being the major producing states.
A new study by the Centre for Integrative Clinical and Molecular Medicine in Brisbane has found that fenugreek, used in curries, can spice up men's sex life by boosting male libidos to a good extent.
Fenugreek seeds contain compounds called saponins and it is thought these stimulate male sex hormones including testosterone, say the researchers.
In their study, the researchers monitored libidos and orgasms of 60 men and found that fenugreek boosted their sex drive by at least a quarter. The subjects aged between 25 and 52 took an extract of the herb twice a day for six weeks. Within that time, their sexual arousal had soared by an average of 28 per cent but scores fell for another group of men taking placebo pills, the 'Daily Express' reported.
The researchers concluded, "There was significant improvement in sexual function and performance." Dried methi leaves are used as flavoring agent in many north Indian cuisines while its seeds are used as seasoning in many dishes and pickles.
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