The term Vanda is credited to Sir William Jones, who in his Asiatic Researches in 1795, first used the name Vanda, an original Sanskrit word for a common orchis species of Bengal and northeast India. Although orchids are being cultivated and valued, mainly for ornamental purposes, some of them are used from time immemorial in traditional practices to treat various medical conditions. Scientific studies on medicinal orchids can lead to the development of invaluable drugs to certain medical conditions. One among them is Vanda roxburghii . This is an epiphytic orchid which is found in many parts of India. The traditional use indicates that various parts of this plant are likely to have several pharmacological properties. It have been used extensively in the indigenous medicine such as Ayurveda and local traditional medical practices. The roots of this plant are used in rheumatism, nervous problems, bronchitis, dyspepsia and fever. Unani practitioners hold it to be laxative and tonic to the liver. One of the scientists Lawler reported that several Ayurvedic type preparations containing Vanda roxburghii (root or whole plant) were used as aphrodisiac and given for impotence.

Further scientific experiments in mice to study the effect of Vanda roxburghii on the sexual behavior of male mice and general toxicity, if any, various extracts of this plant were administered to male mice. Vanda roxburghii root and flower extract were found to exert significant activity and were administered orally to different groups of male mice and their mounting behavior, mating performance and reproductive performance were determined. These extracts also increased mating performance in the mice. The pups fathered by the extracts treated mice were found to be normal with an increasing trend in the male/female ratio of these pups. The extract was devoid of any conspicuous general toxicity. Thus the study strongly concluded that the Vanda roxburghii root and flower extracts significantly stimulate the sexual behavior of male mice..

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