Berberine modulates crucial erectogenic biomolecules and alters histological architecture in penile tissues of diabetic rats.

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid, found in several plants. Diabetes induces erectile dysfunction (ED) via reduction in some hormones and enzymes implicated in sexual function. This study aimed to investigate the role of berberine on crucial biomolecules linked to penile function in diabetic rats. Sixty-three (63) adult male rats were used and distributed into nine groups (each = 7). Group I-IV normal rats administered with citrate buffer (pH 4.5), sildenafil citrate (SD, 5.0 mg/kg), 50 and 100 mg/kg of berberine, respectively, via oral gavage. Rats in groups V-IX were diabetic rat with ED treated with buffer, SD, 50 and 100 mg/kg of berberine, and acarbose (25 mg/kg ACA) respectively. The result revealed that histological architecture in penile tissues were altered in diabetic groups treated with berberine, sildenafil citrate and acarbose when compared to the diabetic control group. Treatment with berberine, increased testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in diabetic rat with ED. Also, reduced prolactin level and acetylcholinesterase, angiotensin-1 converting enzyme, adenosine deaminase and arginase activities were observed in berberine treated diabetic rat with ED. Molecular docking analysis revealed that berberine had strong binding affinities for these enzymes. Thus, berberine could represent a potential therapeutic agent for diabetes-induced ED.

Extracts from Almond (Terminalia catappa) leaf and stem bark mitigate the activities of crucial enzymes and oxidative stress associated with hypertension in cyclosporine A-stressed rats.

We investigated the effect of extracts from the leaf (ALE) and stem bark (ABE) of Almond tree on activities of some crucial enzymes [angiotensin-1 converting enzyme (ACE), arginase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), adenosine deaminase (ADA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase], and thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) associated with hypertension in normal adult male Wistar albino rats and Cyclosporine A (CsA)-stressed rats. The result revealed that CsA-stressed rats treated with captopril and extracts (ALE and ABE) had lowered ACE, arginase, AChE, PDE-5, ADA activities, and TBARS level, coupled with improved SOD and catalase activities compared with untreated CsA-stressed rats, which had reversed these biochemicals compared to normal rats. This suggests that the extracts could be explored to suppress hypertension and other cardiac injury known with CsA treatment; the potentials that could be linked with the constituent polyphenols. However, further studies including blood pressure should be determined to ascertain this claim. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Drug-induced cardiotoxicity, hypertension, and organ damage are among the most common side effects of pharmaceutics. Therefore, it becomes imperative to find natural, effective, and alternative therapy with little or no side effect to combat drug toxicity. The use of Almond (leaf and stem bark) in folklore for the treatment/management of hypertension and other heart-related diseases without full scientific basis is on the increase. Hence, this study provides some biochemical evidences on the effect of Almond leaf and stem back extracts on crucial enzymes and oxidative stress markers involve in the incidence of hypertension in the course of Cyclosporine A administration. The findings of this study indicated that the studied plant materials could be promoted as nutraceutical agents to neutralize drug-induced cardiac injury and hypertension.

Effect of p-coumaric acid on the erectogenic enzyme activities and non-protein thiol level in the penile tissue of normal and doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress male rat.

This study investigated effect of p-coumaric acid (PCA) on erectogenic enzyme activity and non-protein thiol level in the penile tissue of normal and doxorubicin (DOX)-induced oxidative stress male rat. Sixty-four (64) adult male rats weighing between 170 and 180 g were used for this work. After 14 days of acclimatisation, the rats were divided into eight groups (n = 8). Rats were orally pre-treated with PCA dose dependently (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight [b.w.t]) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg b.w.t) for 14 days before induction with a single dose of DOX (15 mg/kg b.w.t, via i.p.). The result revealed that arginase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE), phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), adenosine monophosphohydrolase (AMPdase) activities were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the DOX-induced rats as against the control, which was significantly p < 0.05) higher when compared to normal rats treated with PCA. PCA also improved non-protein thiol level in the penile tissue of both normal and DOX-induced rats. Hence, this study revealed that PCA is capable of causing inhibitory effects on the activities of enzymes, associated with oxidative stress-induced erectile dysfunction (ED) and could also be used as an aphrodisiac agent in the management/treatment of ED.