Erectogenic activity of the Maytenus procumbens roots extract in type 2 diabetic rats
Loading...
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
Erectile dysfunction (ED), one of the common complications of type 2 diabetes in males, is the global health problem that markedly affects the quality of sexually active men. Since the current hypoglycemic and erectogenic drugs, lack the dual effect to ameliorate both hyperglycemia and ED respectively, the multi-target nature of medicinal plants could prove vital in the treatment of diabetes induced ED. This study investigated the erectogenic effect of the roots extracts of Maytenus procumbens in type 2 diabetic rats.
The plant material was separately extracted with methanol and dichloromethane. The extracts were screened for their potential antioxidant, antiprotein glycation, antidiabetic and erectogenic activities in vitro. The in vivo erectogenic effect of the methanolic extract of M. procumbens roots was investigated using type 2 diabetes induced erectile dysfunction in rat model. The fructose-streptozotocin model was used to induce type 2 diabetes-linked ED in sexually active male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were randomly divided into normal group (normal diet and drinking tap water) and high fructose fed group (normal diet and 25% of fructose in drinking water) for 120 days. The high fructose fed group rats were then given a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin solution (30 mg/kg). The diabetic ED rats were orally administered with the extract at 250 mg/kg, daily for a further 28 days. The animals were then sacrificed, and the serum, brain and penile tissues were removed for biochemical analysis and protein expression.
The in vitro studies revealed that methanolic extract exhibited strong antioxidant activities as they efficiently scavenged most of free radicals tested. Both methanolic and dichloromethane extracts displayed inhibitory effects on protein glycation and antidiabetic properties. Furthermore, both extracts inhibited PDE-5 (IC50 values ranging from 0.02 and 0.1 mg/ml), arginase (IC50 = 0.1 mg/ml), AChE, and ACE activities. The in vivo study further confirmed the erectogenic potential of the methanolic extract as it effectively lowered the activities of arginase, AChE and ACE along with increased serum testosterone levels in the extract treated diabetic group. While a relatively higher expression of PDE-5 and RhoA with decrease in the expression of eNOS were observed in the untreated diabetic control group, a reverse pattern in the expression of these proteins was observed in the diabetic group treated
v
with the extract. Both in vitro and in vivo studies further revealed the antioxidant and antiprotein glycation activities of the methanol extract.
These results support the use of M. procumbens roots in the treatment and management of erectile dysfunction.
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the academic requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Mathematical Science in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, 2020.
Keywords
Erectogenic activity, Maytenus procumbens, Erectile dysfunction (ED), type 2 diabetic