Super Viagra - Computer Aided Libido Discoveries

Those famous blue pills are about to get competition. Scientists from the Federal University of Brazil have used computer simulations to test many erection-causing chemicals to find eight promising candidates which may outdo Viagra. What they were looking for are chemicals that can hinder a particular enzyme called phosphodiesterase five. If this enzyme is inhibited, the blood flow to the genitals will be increased.

Their first step was to identify likely candidates by looking through scientific journals. They came up with 48 possible chemicals. They then used a 3-D model of the enzyme to find out which chemical could get into the enzyme which is a protein and mess it up.