Open Accessβ-caryophyllene improves sexual performance via modulation of crucial enzymes relevant to erectile dysfunction in rats
Author(s) -
Stephen Adeniyi Adefegha,
Ganiyu Oboh,
Elijah Oluwatosin Olopade
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
toxicological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.872
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 2234-2753
pISSN - 1976-8257
DOI - 10.1007/s43188-020-00061-2
Subject(s) - sildenafil , erectile dysfunction , arginase , endocrinology , cgmp specific phosphodiesterase type 5 , aché , lipid peroxidation , medicine , pharmacology , erectile tissue , chemistry , adenosine deaminase , nitric oxide , acetylcholinesterase , oxidative stress , enzyme , adenosine , arginine , biochemistry , amino acid
This study sought to investigate the effect of β-caryophyllene (BCP) on sexual performance, crucial enzymes linked to erectile function as well as lipid peroxidation in the penile tissue of paroxetine (PD)-induced rats. Animals were randomly divided into ten groups of five animals each: normal control (NC), BCP (10 mg/kg), BCP (20 mg/kg), sildenafil citrate (SD) (20 mg/kg), BCP + SD (20 mg/kg), PD (20 mg/kg), PD + BCP (10 mg/kg), PD + BCP (20 mg/kg), PD + SD (20 mg/kg) and PD + BCP (20 mg/kg) + SD (20 mg/kg). Oral administration of 20 mg/kg body weight of PD for the first 7 days was done while treatment with BCP and SD were performed between 8 and 14 days prior to euthanasia. The sexual performance study revealed that PD caused erectile dysfuction. Elevated activities of phosphodiesterase-5' (PDE-5'), arginase, adenosine deaminase (ADA), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) as well as lipid peroxidation level were observed in PD-induced rats when compared to the NC group. However, treatment with sildenafil and/ or β-Caryophyllene significantly reduced the activities of AChE, PDE-5', arginase, ADA, and ACE in penile tissues of PD-induced rats. In addition, co-administration of β-caryophyllene and sildenafil citrate showed better modulatory effects. Thus, β-caryophyllene could represent a potential nutraceutical in the management of erectile dysfunction.