Abstract
Introduction: Aqueous leave extract of Tridax procumbens (AETPL) is reported to improve erectile functions; however, the mechanism is unclear. This study investigates the mechanism involved in the contractile activity of the corpus cavernosum after AETPL treatment of paroxetine-induced erectile dysfunctional adult male Wistar rats.
 Methods: A total of 20 male Wistar rats were categorized into four groups of five and treated orally for four weeks: Group 1 (distilled water), Group 2 (paroxetine 10 mg/kg), Group 3 (paroxetine + AETPL 100 mg/kg), and Group 4 (paroxetine + Viagra 0.5 mg/kg). Contractile responses of excised corpus cavernosum strips (CS) were determined in response to acetylcholine (ACh), phenylephrine (PHE), potassium chloride (KCl), and calcium chloride (CaCl2), and after incubation in L-NAME, indomethacin, nifedipine, adenosine, caffeine, nicorandil, and acetovanillone.
 Results: The relaxation response (%) of CS to ACh was significantly inhibited in the paroxetine group compared to the AETPL- and the Viagra-co-treated group. Pre-incubation in L-NAME considerably enhanced the percentage relaxation in groups co-treated with AETPL and Viagra. Groups co-treated with AETPL and Viagra significantly inhibited contraction in response to cumulative doses of CaCl2. Contractile responses of CS to cumulative doses of PHE after incubation in caffeine and adenosine were considerably inhibited in groups co-treated with AETPL and Viagra. Similarly, nicorandil (10-4 M) enhanced the percentage relaxation to cumulative doses of ACh (10-9 — 10-5 M) in groups co-treated with AETPL and Viagra. The pre-incubation of CS with acetovanillone (10-4 M) enhanced the percentage relaxation to ACh across groups.
 Conclusion: Erectile dysfunction was reversed by AETPL-induced antioxidant/NADPH oxidase inhibitor activity, reduced calcium sensitivity, activation of ATP-sensitive K+ channel, and endothelial Nitric Oxide (NO) release.
Highlights
Aqueous leave extract of Tridax procumbens (AETPL) is reported to improve erectile functions; the mechanism is unclear
Contractile responses of cavernosal strips to cumulative doses of PHE, KCl, ACh, and Calcium chloride cAMP (CaCl2) Group co-treated with AETPL showed a significant and dose-dependent increase in contractile responses to PHE (18.7%, 39.7%, 56.2%, 79.1%, 92.8%) and KCl (20%, 40.2%, 61.4%, 76%, 86.4%, 89.4%) (Figure 1)
The percentage relaxation responses to ACh were considerably inhibited in the paroxetine-only group (7.7%,15.6%,24.9%,33.2%, 37.7%) compared to the AETPL-co-treated (9.5%, 22.8%, 34.2%, 44.1%, 46.8%) and the Viagra-co-treated groups (10.5%, 28%, 38%, 45%, 50%) (Figure 2A)
Summary
Aqueous leave extract of Tridax procumbens (AETPL) is reported to improve erectile functions; the mechanism is unclear. This study investigates the mechanism involved in the contractile activity of the corpus cavernosum after AETPL treatment of paroxetine-induced erectile dysfunctional adult male Wistar rats. Pre-incubation in L-NAME considerably enhanced the percentage relaxation in groups co-treated with AETPL and Viagra. Groups co-treated with AETPL and Viagra significantly inhibited contraction in response to cumulative doses of CaCl2. Contractile responses of CS to cumulative doses of PHE after incubation in caffeine and adenosine were considerably inhibited in groups co-treated with AETPL and Viagra. Nicorandil (10−4 M) enhanced the percentage relaxation to cumulative doses of ACh (10−9 — 10−5 M) in groups co-treated with AETPL and Viagra. The ability of the Tridax procumbens leaf extract to significantly reduce arterial blood pressure in hypertensive rats opened a vista in the mechanistic study of the vasorelaxant activities of AETPL. The prospect of Tridax procumbens leaf extract as an antihypertensive agent prompted us to investigate its effect on erec-
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