Comparative evaluation of the sexual functions and NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways of some aphrodisiac herbal extracts in male rats

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Research Article

Cemal Orhan¹  Nurhan Sahin¹  Kazim Sahin²  Fatih Akdemir³  Ibrahim H. Ozercan⁴  Ismet Yilmaz⁵  Gaffari Turk⁶  Hasan Gencoglu⁷  Mehmet Tuzcu⁷  Vijaya Juturu⁸ 

[1] Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Firat University, 23119, Elazig, Turkey;Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Firat University, 23119, Elazig, Turkey;Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Fisheries, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey;Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Fisheries, Inonu University, 44280, Malatya, Turkey;Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Firat University, 23119, Elazig, Turkey;Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Inonu University, 44100, Malatya, Turkey;Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary, Firat University, 23119, Elazig, Turkey;Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, Firat University, 23119, Elazig, Turkey;Research and Development, OmniActive Health Technologies Inc., Morristown, NJ, USA;

关键词: Mucuna pruriens;    Tribulus terrestris;    Withania somnifera;    Sexual enhancer;    Fertility;    Reproductive organs;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12906-016-1303-x

 received in 2016-05-11, accepted in 2016-08-18,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMucuna pruriens, Tribulus terrestris and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) are widely known as antioxidant effective herbals and have been reported to possess aphrodisiac activities in traditional usages. In this study, we determined the effects of these herbals on sexual functions, serum biochemical parameters, oxidative stress and levels of NF-κB, Nrf2, and HO-1 in reproductive tissues.MethodsThirty-five male rats were divided into five groups: the control group, sildenafil-treated group (5 mg/kg/d), Mucuna, Tribulus and Ashwagandha groups. The extract groups were treated orally either with Mucuna, Tribulus or Ashwagandha (300 mg/kg b.w.) for 8 weeks.ResultsAll of the extracts were found to be significantly effective in sexual functioning and antioxidant capacity and Tribulus showed the highest effectiveness. Serum testosterone levels significantly increased in Tribulus and Ashwagandha groups in comparison to control group. Tribulus was able to reduce the levels of NF-κB and increase the levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 to a much greater extent than Mucuna and Ashwagandha.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate for the first time that Mucuna, Tribulus and Ashwagandha supplementation improves sexual function in male rats via activating Nrf2/ HO-1 pathway while inhibiting the NF-κB levels. Moreover, Tribulus terrestris extract was found to be more bioavailable from Ashwagandha extract followed by Mucuna extract.Graphical abstractSchematic representation of the mode of action of some aphrodisiac herbal extracts to improve sexual functions

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016