Effects of a Mixed Herbal Extract on the Corpus Cavernosum of Male Rabbits

We aimed to estimate the effects of a mixed herbal extract(MT) of three natural products (FructusAmomi Amari, Eucommiae Cortex, and BombyxBatryticatus) on erectile dysfunction.

Male sexual function was investigated through experiments on the corpus cavernosum of male rabbits. Isolated corpus cavernosum strips were treated with the aqueous extract of MT (0.01–3.0 mg/mL) and with 1 mM calcium chloride (Ca2+) after pretreatment with MT in a Ca2+-free Krebs-Ringer solution. Strips were contracted by treatment with Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), indomethacin (IM), and tetraethylammonium (TEA) before MT treatment.

MT resulted in a significant relaxation of the cavernous body strips to which the maximum contraction was applied by incubation with 3 mg/mL phenylephrine (PE). The relaxation effect of the extract on the cavernous body was not affected by pretreatment with IM or TEA, but was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with L-NNA. The extract significantly inhibited contraction changes increased by extracellular Ca2+ influx.

From the above results, we determined MT exerted a relaxation effect on the corpus cavernosum through an increase in NO production via eNOS and by blocking extracellular Ca2+ influx.