New nutty substitute for Viagra

One of the researchers, UM Faculty of Medicine Physiology Department lecturer Dr Kim Kah Hwi, said that so far 40 volunteers had tried the tablet and responded positively.

On its efficacy, Kim said the new pill was comparable to Viagra and he claimed that it was safer as well.

"It takes about an hour for the effects to set in and it will last for about four hours.

"Furthermore, because it is not a drug, it is safe for those with hypertension or diabetes, or [those] who have recently had heart bypasses," he said.

Kim said the active ingredient was arginine, an amino acid that is absorbed into the body and converted into nitric oxide.

"This enlarges blood vessels and enhances blood flow to the penis," he said, adding that the walnuts were imported from China because they were cheaper there.

The tablet, called N-Hanz, has been approved by the Health Ministry, Kim said.