Prosexual effects of lycium barbarum

Lycium barbarum, also known as wolfberry, has been commonly used as an oriental herb in China for a long period. Wolfberry is suggested to be antiaging and used to maintain health of kidneys, liver, and the eyes. In the practice of traditional Chinese medicine, wolfberry was also prescribed for patients who suffered from dysfunctions of sexual desire. Although it has been put into application for a long history, the underlying mechanism is still elusive. In the past decades, increasing lines of evidence support the roles of wolfberry in promoting male sexual functioning. The benefit of wolfberry was shown on different aspects including preventing the reproductive tissues from oxidative insult, improving motility of sperm, maintaining a testosterone level, and promoting sexual performance of the hemicastrated rats. This chapter discusses on the recent research findings, both from bench and bedside, which support the prosexual function of wolfberry, and discusses the potential clinical application of wolfberry on the treatment of sexual behavior.