Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Erectile Dysfunction | Research article

Ocimum gratissimum Linn. Leaves reduce the key enzymes activities relevant to erectile dysfunction in isolated penile and testicular tissues of rats

Authors: Oluwafemi Adeleke Ojo, Adebola Busola Ojo, Babatunji Emmanuel Oyinloye, Basiru Olaitan Ajiboye, Omosola Olufisayo Anifowose, Ayodeji Akawa, Oluranti Esther Olaiya, Oluwaseun Ruth Olasehinde, Abidemi Paul Kappo

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Ocimum gratissimum L. is a medicinal plant widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions with the leaf decoction usually taken in folk medicine to enhance erectile performance in men although the probable mechanism of actions remains undetermined. This study examined the inhibitory potentials of Ocimum gratissimum leaves on some key enzymes associated with erectile dysfunction in penile and testicular tissues of the rat.

Methods

Inhibitory effect of aqueous extract (1:10 w/v) of O. gratissimum leaves on the activities of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), arginase, angiotensin I –converting enzyme (ACE), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in penile and testicular tissues were assessed. Also, the extract was investigated for ferric reducing antioxidant property(FRAP) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) radical scavenging abilities.

Results

The extract showed higher PDE-5 (IC50 = 43.19 μg/mL), ACE (IC50 = 44.23 μg/mL), AChE (IC50 = 55.51 μg/mL) and arginase (IC50 = 46.12 μg/mL) inhibitory activity in the penile tissue than PDE-5 (IC50 = 44.67 μg/mL), ACE (IC50 = 53.99 μg/mL), AChE (IC50 = 60.03 μg/mL) and arginase (IC50 = 49.12 μg/mL) inhibitory activity in the testicular tissue homogenate. Furthermore, the extract scavenged free radicals and in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion

The enzyme activities displayed might be associated with the bioactive compounds present in the extract which could possibly explain its use in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED).
Literature
1.
Gratzke C, Angulo J, Chitaley K, Dai YT, Kim NN, Paick JS, Simonsen U, Uckert S, Wespes E, Andersson KE, Lue TF, Stief CG Anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med 2010; 7(1 Pt 2): 445–475.
2.
NIH Consensus Conference. Impotence. NIH consensus development panel on impotence. JAMA. 1993;270(1):83–90.CrossRef
3.
Sasatomi K, Hiragata S, Miyazato M, Chancellor BM, Morris S, Yoshimura N. Nitric oxide mediated suppression of detrusor overactivity by arginase inhibitor in rats with chronic spinal cord injury. Urol. 2008;72:696–700.CrossRef
4.
Giugliano F, Maiorino M, Bellastella G, Gicchino M, Giugliano D, Esposito K. Determinants of erectile dysfunction in Type-2 diabetes. Int J Impot Res. 2010;22:204–9.CrossRef
5.
Lugnier C. Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) superfamily: a new target for the development of specific therapeutic agents. Pharmacol Ther. 2006;109:366–98.CrossRef
6.
Goswami SK, Inamdar MN, Jamwal R, Dethe S. Effect of Cinnamomum cassia methanol extract and sildenafil on arginase and sexual function of young male Wistar rats. J Sex Med. 2014;11:1475–83.CrossRef
7.
Vargas VM, Torres D, Corona F, Vergara M, Gomez LE, Delgado-Lezama R, Cueva-Rolon R. Cholinergic facilitation of erection and ejaculation in spinal cord-transected rats. Int J Impot Res. 2004;16:86–90.CrossRef
8.
Akomolafe SF, Oboh G, Oyeleye SI, Boligon AA. Aqueous extract from Ficus capensis leaves inhibits key enzymes linked to erectile dysfunction and prevent oxidative stress in rats' penile tissue. NFS J. 2016;4:15–21.CrossRef
9.
Ojo OA, Ojo AB, Ajiboye BO, Oyinloye BE, Akinyemi AJ, Okesola MA, Boligon AA, de Campos MM. Chromatographic fingerprint analysis, antioxidant properties, and inhibition of cholinergic enzymes (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) of phenolic extracts from Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill bark. J Basic Clinl Physiol Pharmacol. 2018a;29(2):217–24.CrossRef
10.
Andersson KE. Mechanisms of penile erection and basis for pharmacological treatment of erectile dysfunction. Pharmacol Rev. 2011;63:811–59.CrossRef
11.
Nunes KP, Webb RC. Mechanisms in Erectile Function and Dysfunction: An Overview, Erectile Dysfunction - Disease-Associated Mechanisms and Novel Insights into Therapy, Dr. Kenia Nunes (Ed.), InTech, 2012; DOI: https://​doi.​org/​10.​5772/​39088.
12.
Bader M. Tissue renin–angiotensin–aldosterone systems: targets for pharmacological therapy. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2010;50:439–65.CrossRef
13.
Fraga-Silva RA, Montecucc F, Mach F, Santos RA, Stergiopulos N. Pathophysiological role of the renin–angiotensin system on erectile dysfunction. Eur J Clin Investig. 2013;43:978–85.CrossRef
14.
Oboh G, Ademiluyi AO, Ademosun AO, Olasehinde TA, Oyeleye SI, Boligon AA, Athayde ML. Phenolic extract from Moringa oleifera leaves inhibits key enzymes linked to erectile dysfunction and oxidative stress in rats’ penile tissues. Biochem Res Int. 2015; [Epub ahead of print]; [1–8]. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1155/​2015/​175950.
15.
Dorrance AM, Lewis RW, Mills TM, Mills TM. Captopril treatment reverses erectile dysfunction in male stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Int J Impot Res. 2002;14:494–7.CrossRef
16.
Haffner SM, Lehto S, Ronnemaa T, Pyorala K, Laakso M. Mortality from coronary heart disease in subjects with type-2 diabetes and in non-diabetic subjects with and without prior myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 1998;339:229–34.CrossRef
17.
Landete JM. Dietary intake of natural antioxidants: vitamins and polyphenols. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2013;53:706–21.CrossRef
18.
Ralebona N, Sewani-Rusike CR, Nkehchungag BN. Effects of ethanolic extract of Garcinia kola on sexual behaviour and sperm parameters in male Wistar rats. Afr J Pharma Pharmacol. 2012;6:1077–82.
19.
Sulistiarini DL. Ocimum gratissimum L. In: Plant Resources of South-East Asia. No.19: Essential oils Plants. Oyen, P.A. and X. D. Nguyen (Eds.). Prosea Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia, 1999. p. 140–142.
20.
Akinmoladun AC, Ibukun EO, Afor E, Obuotor EM, Farombi EO. Phytochemical constituent and antioxidant activity of extract from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum. Sci Res Essay. 2007;2:163–6.
21.
Ojo OA, Oloyede OI, Olarewaju OI, Ojo AB, Ajiboye BO, Onikanni SA. In-Vitro antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of Ocimum Gratissimum. Wr J Pharma Res. 2013a;2(6):1899–912.
22.
Ojo OA, Oloyede OI, Olarewaju OI, Ojo AB. In-Vitro antioxidant activity and estimation of Total phenolic content in ethyl acetate extract of Ocimum gratissimum. Pharmacologyonline. 2013b;3:37–44.
23.
Ojo OA, Oloyede OI, Tugbobo OS, Olarewaju OI, Ojo AB. Antioxidant and inhibitory effect of scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum) on Fe2+ and sodium nitroprusside induced lipid peroxidation in rat brain in vitro. Adv Biol Res. 2014a;8(1):8–17.
24.
Dubey NK, Tiwari TN, Mandin DH, Andriamboavonjy JP, Chaumont A. Antifungal properties of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil (ethyl cinnamate chemotype). Fitoterapia. 2000;7:567–9.CrossRef
25.
Ojo OA, Oloyede OI, Ajiboye BO, Olarewaju OI. Effects of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum on some hematological parameters of albino rats. Am Chem Sci J. 2014b;4(1):74–81.CrossRef
26.
Offiah VN, Chikwendu UA. Antidiarrhoeal effects of Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract in experimental animals. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;68:327–30.CrossRef
27.
Ojo OA, Oloyede OI, Olarewaju OI, Akintayo CO, Fadaka AO. Effect of Ocimum gratissimum extract on the functional indices of selected tissues of male Wistar rats. Int J Appl Res Technol. 2014c;3(6):41–7.
28.
Iweala EEJ, Obidoa O. Studies on some biochemical and histological changes associated with long term consumption of leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. in male rats. Am J Food Technol. 2010;5:376–84.CrossRef
29.
Pande M, Pathak A. Effect of ethanolic extract of Ocimum gratissimum (ram tulsi) on sexual behavior in male mice. Int J Pharmaceutical Tech Res. 2009;1:468–73.
30.
Singh R, Ali A, Gupta G, Semwal A, Jeyabalan G. Some medicinal plants with aphrodisiac potential: a current status. J Acute Dis. 2013;2:179–88.CrossRef
31.
Ebong PE, Efiong EE, Mgbeje BIA, Igile GO, Itam EH. Combined therapy of Moringa oleifera and Ocimum gratissimum reversed testicular damage in diabetic rats. Br J Med Med Res. 2014;4(11):2277–90.CrossRef
32.
Ojo OA, Oloyede OI, Olarewaju OI, Ojo AB, Ajiboye BO, Onikanni SA. Toxicity studies of the crude aqueous leaves extracts of Ocimum gratissimum in albino rats. IOSR J Environ Sci Toxicol Food Tech. 2013c;6(4):34–9.CrossRef
33.
Oboh G, Adebayo AA, Ademosun AO, Boligon AA. In vitro inhibition of phosphodiesterase-5 and arginase activities from rat penile tissue by two Nigerian herbs (Hunteria umbellata and Anogeissus leiocarpus). J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2017; [Epub ahead of print]. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1515/​jbcpp-2016-0143.
34.
Adefegha SA, Oboh G, Ejakpovi II, Oyeleye SI. Antioxidant and antidiabetic effects of gallic and protocatechuic acids: a structure–function perspective. Comp Clin Pathol. 2015;24:1579–85.CrossRef
35.
Cushman DW, Cheung HS. Spectrophotometric assay and properties of the angiotensin-converting enzyme of rabbit lung. Biochem Pharmacol. 1971;20(7):1637–48.CrossRef
36.
Pulido R, Bravo L, Saura-Calixto F. Antioxidant activity of dietary polyphenols as determined by a modified ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay. J Agric Food Chem. 2000;48:396–402.CrossRef
37.
Gyamfi MA, Yonamine M, Aniya Y. Free-radical scavenging action of medicinal herbs from Ghana: Thonningia sanguinea on experimentally-induced liver injuries. Gen Pharmacol. 1999;32:661–7.CrossRef
38.
39.
Chuang T, Strauss JD, Murphy RA, Steers WD. A type-5 cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor specifically amplifies endogenous cGMP dependent relaxation in rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in vitro. J Urol. 1998;160:257–61.CrossRef
40.
Corbin JD. Mechanisms of action of PDE5 inhibition in erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 2004;16:4–7.CrossRef
41.
Saxena A, Prakash P, Porwal M, Sissodia N, Sharma P. Erectile dysfunction: a review and herbs used for its treatment. Int J Green Pharm. 2012;6:109–17.CrossRef
42.
Dell’ Agli M, Bush PA, Dorey FJ. Polyphenols in orange peels (citrus species) enhances relaxation corpus cavernosum tissue: implications to erectile physiology and dysfunction. Can J Pharmacol. 2006;73:1714–26.
43.
Dell’ Agli M, Busciala A, Bossio E. Vascular effects of wine polyphenols. J Cardiovasc Res. 2005;63:593–602.CrossRef
44.
Chan EC, Pannangpetch P, Woodman OL. Relaxation to flavones and flavonols in rat isolated thoracic aorta: mechanism of action and structure-activity relationships. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2000;35:326–33.CrossRef
45.
Kim JH, Bugaj LJ, Oh YJ, Bivalacqua TJ, Ryoo S, Soucy KG, Santhanam L, Webb A, Camara A, Sikka G, Nyhan D, Shoukas AA, Ilies M, Christianson DW, Champion HC, Berkowitz DE. Arginase inhibition restores NOS coupling and reverses endothelial dysfunction and vascular stiffness in old rats. J Appl Phys. 2009;107:1249–57.
46.
Kim SW, Cuong TD, Hung TM, Ryoo S, Lee JH, Min BS. Arginase II inhibitory activity of flavonoid compounds from Scutellaria indica. Archives Pharmacal Res. 2013;36:922–9.CrossRef
47.
Segal R, Hannan JL, Liu X, Kutlu O, Burnett AL, Champion HC, Kim JH, Steppan D, Berkowitz DE, Bivalacqua TJ. Chronic Oral Administration of the Arginase Inhibitor 2(S)-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid (ABH) improves erectile function in aged rats. J Androl. 2012;33:1169–75.CrossRef
48.
Cassidy A, Franz M, Rimm EB. Dietary flavonoid intake and incidence of erectile dysfunction. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016;106:534–41.CrossRef
49.
Shin W, Cuong TD, Lee JH, Min B, Jeon BH, Lim HK, Ryoo S. 2011. Arginase inhibition by ethyl acetate extract of Caesalpinia sappan lignum contributes to activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Korean J Physiol Pharmacol. 2011;15:123–8.CrossRef
50.
Salawu SO, Giaccherini C, Innocenti M, Vincieri FF, Akindahunsi AA, Mulinacci N. HPLC/DAD/MS characterisation and analysis of flavonoids and cynnamoil derivatives in four Nigerian green-leafy vegetables. Food Chem. 2009;115:1568–74.CrossRef
51.
Da Silva ER, Maquiaveli CDC, Magalhaes PP. The leishmanicidal flavonols quercetin and quercitrin target Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis arginase. Exp Parasitology. 2012;130(3):183–8.CrossRef
52.
Hedlund P, Ny L, Alm P, Andersson KE. Cholinergic nerves in human corpus cavernosum and spongiosum contain nitric oxide synthase and heme oxygenase. J Urol. 2000;64:868–75.CrossRef
53.
Jung J, Jo HW, Kwon H, Jeong NY. Clinical neuroanatomy and neurotransmitter-mediated regulation of penile erection. Int Neurourology J. 2014;18:58–62.CrossRef
54.
Saenz de Tejada I, Blanco R, Goldstein I, Azadzoi K, de las Morenas A, Krane RJ, et al. Cholinergic neurotransmission in human corpus cavernosum. I. Responses of isolated tissue. Am J Phys 1988; 254: 459–467.
55.
Ojo OA, Ojo AB, Ajiboye BO, Olaiya O, Okesola MA, Boligon AA, de Campos MMA, Oyinloye BE, Kappo AP. HPLC-DAD fingerprinting analysis, antioxidant activities of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) a. Gray leaves and its inhibition of key enzymes linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Toxicol Rep 2018b; 5: 585–592 https://​doi.​org/​https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​toxrep.​2018.​05.​003.
56.
Ojo OA, Ajiboye BO, Ojo AB, Olayide II, Akinyemi AJ, Fadaka AO, Adedeji EA, Boligon AA. Anraku de Campos MM. HPLC-DAD fingerprinting analysis, antioxidant activity of phenolic extracts from Blighia sapida bark and its inhibition of cholinergic enzymes linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Jordan J Biol Sci. 2017;10(4):257–64.
57.
John S, Schmieder RE. Potential mechanisms of impaired endothelial function in arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Curr Sci Inc Rep. 2003;5:199–207.CrossRef
58.
Jin L, Angiotensin II. Signaling and its implication in erectile dysfunction. J Sexual Med. 2009;6(3):302–10.CrossRef
59.
Park JK, Kim SZ, Kim SH, Park YK, Cho KW. Renin angiotensin system in rabbit corpus cavernosum: functional characterization of angiotensin II receptors. J Urol. 1997;158:653–8.CrossRef
60.
Ademiluyi AO, Oyeleye SI, Oboh G. Biological activities, antioxidant properties and phytoconstituents of essential oil from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves. Comp Clin Pathol. 2015;25:169–1768.CrossRef
61.
Guerrero L, Castillo J, Quiñones M, Garcia-Vallvé S, Arola L, Pujadas G, Muguerza B. Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity by flavonoids: structure–activity relationship studies. PLoS One. 2012;7:49493.CrossRef
62.
Shodehinde SA, Adefegha SA, Oboh G, Oyeleye SI, Olasehinde TA, Nwanna EE, Adedayo BC, Boligon AA. Phenolic composition and evaluation of methanol and aqueous extracts of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L) leaves on angiotensin-I-converting enzyme and some pro-oxidant induced lipid peroxidation in vitro. J Evid-Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;21:67–76.CrossRef
63.
Azadzoi KM, Siroky M. Oxidative stress and molecular reactions in arteriogenic erectile dysfunction. Chonnam Med J. 2009;45:1–8.CrossRef
64.
Dastmalchi K, Dorman HJD, Korsa M, Hiltunen R. Chemical composition of in vitro antioxidant evaluation of a water soluble mediavan balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) extract. Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft Technol. 2007;40:239–48.CrossRef
65.
Ojo OA, Afon AA, Ojo AB, Ajiboye BO, Oyinloye BE, Kappo AP. Inhibitory Effects of Solvent-Partitioned Fractions of Two Nigerian Herbs (Spondias mombin Linn. and Mangifera indica L.) on α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase. Antioxidants. 2018c;7(6):73.CrossRef
66.
Ojo OA, Ajiboye BO, Imiere OD, Adeyonu O, Olayide II, Fadaka OA. Antioxidative properties of Blighia sapida K.D. Koenig stem bark extract and inhibitory effects on carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes associated with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Pharmacognosy J. 2018d;10(2):376–83.CrossRef
67.
Ajiboye BO, Ojo OA, Okesola MA, Oyinloye BE, Kappo AP. Ethyl acetate leaf fraction of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (mill.) I. M. Johnst: antioxidant potential, inhibitory activities of key enzymes on carbohydrate metabolism, cholinergic, monoaminergic, purinergic and chemical fingerprinting. Int J Food Prop. 2018a;21(1):1697–715.CrossRef
68.
Ajiboye BO, Ojo OA, Okesola MA, Akinyemi AJ, Talabi JY, Idowu OT, Fadaka AO, Boligon AA, de Campos MMA. In vitro antioxidant activities and inhibitory effects of phenolic extract of Senecio biafrae (Oliv and Hiern) against key enzymes linked with type II diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease. Food Science and Nutrition. 2018b;6(7):1803–10.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Ocimum gratissimum Linn. Leaves reduce the key enzymes activities relevant to erectile dysfunction in isolated penile and testicular tissues of rats
Authors
Oluwafemi Adeleke Ojo
Adebola Busola Ojo
Babatunji Emmanuel Oyinloye
Basiru Olaitan Ajiboye
Omosola Olufisayo Anifowose
Ayodeji Akawa
Oluranti Esther Olaiya
Oluwaseun Ruth Olasehinde
Abidemi Paul Kappo
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2481-0

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2019 Go to the issue

Research article

Research trends of acupuncture therapy on insomnia in two decades (from 1999 to 2018):a bibliometric analysis

Research article

Canscora lucidissima, a Chinese folk medicine, exerts anti-inflammatory activities by inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in LPS-activated macrophages

Research article

A cross-sectional assessment of knowledge, attitudes and self-perceived effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine among pharmacy and non-pharmacy university students

Research article

Self-directed learning and practice of Italian osteopathic students during summer break: a cross-sectional survey

Research article

Sheng Mai San protects H9C2 cells against hyperglycemia-induced apoptosis

Research article

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and acute toxicity effects of fermented soybean