European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 2012; 16: 539-547 Arthropods and their products as aphrodisiacs – review of literature B. PAJOVIC1, M. RADOSAVLJEVIC2, M. RADUNOVIC3, N. RADOJEVIC4, B. BJELOGRLIC5 1Urology and Nephrology Clinic, Clinical Centre of Montenegro, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica (Montenegro) 2Department of Surgery, Public Hospital Kotor, Kotor (Montenegro) 3Surgery Clinic, Clinical Centre of Montenegro, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica (Montenegro) 4Department of Forensic Medicine, Clinical Centre of Montenegro, Podgorica (Montenegro) 5Institute of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade (Serbia) Abstract. – After a short review of impo- Authors even claim that 10% of male population tence, the definitions of erectants and aphrodisi- is impotent2. Two similar types of medications acs are presented. The Authors propose division are used in treatment of this state. Erectants are of arthropods according to the places of effect. substances which cause or facilitate penile erec- The description of particular arthropods with 3 their pictures and nomenclature, is followed by tions . Aphrodisiacs are medicines that induce certain or probable mechanisms of achieving the certain, drug dependent, arousal of sexual desire aphrodisiac and sometimes toxic effect, that and the ability to perform the sexual act, which, were available in the literature since 1929 till idealy, lasts a few hours4. American neurophar- nowadays. We mention the most usual locations, macologists consider that an ideal aphrodisiac is mainly in Asia, where they are found and con- a two hours’ erectant5. sumed, but also, we describe the manner of preparing and intake. The review includes the We consider that the division of aphrodisiacs following arthropods: lobster, Arizona bark scor- according to the place of effect is the most suit- pion, deathstalker, banana spider, Mediterranean able: black widow, Burmeister’s triatoma, giant water bug, diving-beetle, Korean bug, diaclina, flannel 1. Stimulators of the lower abdomen and pelvis moth, Spanish fly, migratory locust, red wood structures, especially the ones of the urogenital ant and honeybee. tract (cantharidin, papaverine, prostaglandin Key Words: E1, phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitors) 2. Stimulators of the spinal cord (strychnine, Aphrodisiac, Arthropod, Beetle, Bug, Lobster, Penile damiana active principles) erection, Scorpion, Spanish fly. 3. Brain stimulators – Specific stimulators (naloxone, metaqualon, marijuana, sex hormones) – Modificators of brain neurotransmission • Serotonin related (parachlorophenylala- Introduction nine, danitracene, methysergide) • Dopamine related (apomorphine, L-DOPA, The word aphrodisiac comes from the name of amantadine, bromocriptine)6. the Greek Goddess of sexual love and beauty, Aphrodite. In the animal kingdom (Regnum Animalia) Impotence in a wider sense of the word, be- systematisation, one Phylum is consisted of Poly- sides the loss of libido, implies the inability to meria, which are divided into Anellidae and achieve and hold an erection, and the inability of Arthropodae. Some representatives of arthropods ejaculation or even an early ejaculation. It is a are used as aphrodisiacs for many millennia, es- very widespread phenomenon, present in almost pecially in Asia, so many of these have passed 40% of men in sexually active couples1. Some the test of time. Nowadays, they can be found in Corresponding Author: Nemanja Radojevic, MD; e-mail: [email protected] 539 B. Pajovic, M. Radosavljevic, M. Radunovic, N. Radojevic, B. Bjelogrlic different forms in market places or at street mer- very rarely with deadly outcome. Besides severe chants. They are used as spice in food, as a main pain, numbness, tingling, sometimes paralysis, course, or as a medicine. convulsions and difficult breathing which are the In text below, the most famous species of symptoms of scorpionism in humans that may arthropods or their products used as aphrodisiacs last up to 72 hours, penile erection is also very are described: lobster, Arizona bark scorpion, common in all age13. People who were stung re- deathstalker, banana spider, Mediterranean black port that it felt like getting struck with a bolt of widow, Burmeister’s triatoma, giant water bug, lightening or electrical current. diving-beetle, Korean bug, diaclina – Panzer’s Venom deposited via the intravenous route can darkling beetle, flannel moth, Spanish fly, migra- cause symptoms only 4-7 minutes after the injec- tory locust, red wood ant and honeybee. tion, with a peak tissue concentration in 30 min- utes and an overall toxin elimination half-life of Lobster 4-12 hours through the urine. Scorpion venom Supraclassis: Crustacea may contain multiple compounds in varying con- Classis: Crustacea centrations of neurotoxin, cardiotoxin, nephro- Subclassis: Malacostraca toxin, hemolytic toxin, phosphodiesterases, phos- Familia: Palirunidae pholipases, glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronidases, Genus: Palinurus histamine, serotonin, tryptophan, etc. From the Species: Palinurus sp. mentioned, neurotoxin is the most potent with neuromuscular, neuroautonomic and local tissue In the Middle Ages, boiled lobsters were very effects. It alters voltage-dependent sodium chan- highly appreciated aphrodisiacs7,8. Also, San- nels, which lead to prolonged excessive neuronal soni’s encyclopedic dictionary puts lobsters in and neuromuscular activity, such as erection. It aphrodisiacs9. Lobster’s meat is soft, very tasteful causes stabilization of voltage-dependent sodium and known as an exceptional delicacy. It has been channels in the open position, leading to continu- proved that occasional abundant lobster meals of ous, prolonged, repetitive firing of the somatic, high quality can cause hyperaemia in abdominal sympathetic, and parasympathetic neurons. This and pelvic organs, and thus bring to an aphrodisi- repetitive firing results in autonomic and neuro- ac effect. Besides that, the enjoyment in such muscular over excitation symptoms, and it pre- high value food rises general mental state and so vents normal nerve impulse transmissions14. produces stimulation of libido7,8,10-12. This is the probable mechanism of the lobster’s aphrodisiac Deathstalker effect. Supraclassis: Chelicerata There is also a very interesting fact concerning Classis: Arachnida lobster’s fertility. It does not slow down or weak- Ordo: Scorpiones en with age. Actually, older lobsters are more fer- Familia: Buthidae tile than younger lobsters. Telomerase is an en- Subfamilia: Buthinae zyme that repairs DNA, so it may be the key fact Genus: Leiurus seu Buthus to avoid the aging as the way of immortality. In- Species: Leiurus quinquestriatus (Hector) take of those whose characteristics are wanted, may be the point of lobster’s aphrodisiac effect. Scorpionism caused by the sting of this North American scorpion is often characterised by Arizona Bark Scorpion pathological erections – the priapism15-17. Almost Supraclassis: Chelicerata complete symptomatology produced by the neuro- Classis: Arachnida toxin poisoning if these Buthoidae is a conse- Ordo: Scorpiones quence of the autonomic nervous system stimula- Familia: Buthidae tion14,15,17,18,19. The poison consists of four compo- Subfamilia: Buthinae nents: chlorotoxin, charybdotoxin, scyllatoxin and Genus: Centruroides agitoxins. The venom stimulates sacral parasym- Species: Centruroides sculpturatus (Ewing) pathetic nerves which leads to changes in periph- eral non-adrenergic and non-cholinergic transmis- It is a small brown scorpion, whose habitat is sion in vascular and nonvascular smooth muscles. Northern America, where it is of a toxicological The main transmitter is vasoactive intestinal importance, as the most venomous scorpion, but polypeptide (VIP). It is released from the VIP-re- 540 Arthropods and their products as aphrodisiacs – review of literature leasing nerves located most densely around the Latrodectus genus is spread all over the world. pudendal artery and the erectile tissue of human The most venomous is the European – Mediter- corpus calosum. The released VIP is the strongest ranean spider. The ancient Authors, even Avicen- relaxant of the penile vascular and smooth muscle na, noticed that erections, priapism and libido structures, leading to tumescence and erection of arousal appeared in contrast to the bad general the penis20. This is the most probable mechanism condition of patients with latrodectism23. The pri- for the erection caused by the Buthoidae venom. apism itself and libido enhancement, as the Other components of deathstalker’s toxin cocktail symptoms of latrodectism, have been described are a potential in treatment of brain tumors and in- by many Authors21,24-30. Latrodectism induced sulin regulation in diabetes. erections and priapism are a consequence of lum- bosacral parasympathetic structure stimulation27. Banana Spider Maretic considers that, beside the autonomic Classis: Arachnida nerve stimulation, blood viscosity lays a certain Ordo: Araneae role21,24. Subordo: Labidognatha Bettini and Cantore27 reported about a patient Familia: Ctenidae who was treated in hospital for latrodectism, in a Genus: Phoneutria phase of severe pain experienced erection and a Species: Phoneutria nigriventer (Keyserling) compelling sexual desire. In that condition he ran to his wife to satisfy his lust. In past centuries spiders were often used as aphrodisiacs. In South America women mix spi- Burmeister’s Triatoma ders in