Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a methanol extract of Arctium lappa (EAL) augments penile erection. In isolated endothelium‐intact rabbit corpus cavernosum preconstricted with phenylephrine, EAL relaxed penile smooth muscle in a dose‐dependent manner, which was inhibited by pretreatment with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME), and a soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, 1H‐[1,2,4]‐oxadiazole‐[4,3‐α]‐quinoxalin‐1‐one (ODQ), L‐type Ca2+ channel blockers, verapamil, and diltiazem, respectively. On the other hand, penile smooth muscle relaxation induced by EAL was not blocked by several inhibitors including indomethacin, atropine, propranolol, tetraethylammonium (TEA), and glibenclamide, respectively. In addition, incubation of endothelium intact rabbit corpus cavernosum tissues with EAL increased cGMP production in a dose‐dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that EAL may be induce penile erection through the activation of penile tissue NO/cGMP system and/or Ca2+channels in rat corpus cavernosum.
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