Investigation of Interactive Activity of Electro-Acupuncture on Pharmacokinetics of Sildenafil and Their Synergistic Effect on Penile Blood Flow in Rats.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a disorder found in males throughout the world, which negatively affects relationships with partners with advancing age. Hence, in this study, we tested a combined novel treatment of electro-acupuncture (EA) and sildenafil citrate against ED. In addition to EA therapy, the sildenafil citrate, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, is a widely recognized drug that has achieved considerable success in the treatment of ED. However, the combined effect of both the EA and sildenafil has not yet been investigated. Hence, we aimed to examine the effect of EA on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of sildenafil in rat plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) after EA and sildenafil administration (10 mg/Kg). Following this, the pharmacodynamics was studied via blood flow pattern using developing Doppler images of the lower body and penis. The pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that sildenafil significantly increases by administration of low-frequency EA. Further, the pharmacodynamic studies using Doppler imaging revealed an elevated blood flow in rat penis compared with lower body during combined treatment of sildenafil and low-frequency EA. These data indicate a synergistic therapeutic effect of EA and sildenafil for the treatment of ED.

The influence of Eruca sativa (Arugula) on pharmacokinetics of Sildenafil in rats.

OBJECTIVES: A drug like Sildenafil is commonly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Eruca sativa is known as a garden plant used in folk medicine to enhance the sexual desire in males. Nevertheless, the interaction of Sildenafil and Eruca sativa was not studied. In the current study, we aimed to examine the influence of Eruca sativa on Sildenafil pharmacokinetics in rats. STUDY DESIGN: A crossover experiment with washout period of two weeks was conducted. To one group of animals, Eruca sativa was given as food and a drinking solution to rats for 12 hours before the day of the experiment. On the day of the experiment, the same group received 5 ml (50 mg/ml) orally and a half an hour later animals received 1 ml Sildenafil citrate (2.85 mg/kg) oral administrated to the study group. The other group of rats only received Sildenafil. Two-weeks later a cross-over design on the same animals was conducted. Blood samples were collected from optical vein on different time intervals, samples were analyzed using validated (HPLC-UV) method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Pre-administration of Eruca sativa has increased Sildenafil Cmax from 226.72 to 345.25 ng/ml, (p<0.05). In addition, the AUC of Sildenafil has significantly increased when it was pre-administered with Eruca sativa (550.59 vs. 916.48 ng/ml*hr). Our findings suggest that co-administration of Eruca sativa with Sildenafil enhances the pharmacokinetics of Sildenafil in rats plasma.

Male enhancement Nutraceuticals in the Middle East market: Claim, pharmaceutical quality and safety assessments.

The global market is invaded by male enhancement nutraceuticals claimed to be of natural origin sold with a major therapeutic claim. Most of these products have been reported by international systems like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We hypothesize that these products could represent a major threat to the health of the consumers. In this paper, pharmaceutical evaluation of some of these nutraceutical products sold in Egypt under the therapeutic claim of treating erectile dysfunction, are discussed along with pharmacological evaluation to investigate their safety and efficacy parameters. Samples were analyzed utterly using conventional methods, i.e.: HPLC, HPTLC, NIR, content uniformity and weight variation and friability. The SeDeM system was used for quality assessment. On the basis of the results of this research, the sampled products are adulterated and totally heterogeneous in their adulterant drug content and pharmaceutical quality. These products represent a major safety threat for the consumers in Egypt and the Middle East, especially; the target audience is mostly affected with heart and blood pressure problems seeking natural and safe alternatives to the well-established Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors (PDE-5Is).