Nat Prod Sci.  2024 Mar;30(1):8-13. 10.20307/nps.2024.30.1.8.

Interaction of Icariin from Epimedium koreanum and Udenafil on the Relaxation of Rabbit Penile Corpus Cavernosum Tissue

• Lee SJ
• Kim TW
• Park MH
• Kim HK

• KMID: 2555440
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.20307/nps.2024.30.1.8

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relaxant effect of ethanol extract, fractions from Epimedium koreanum (E. koreanum) on penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (PCCSM) in a rabbit. The contractility on PCCSM was also evaluated with icariin, active major compound, from E. koreanum quantified using HPLC analysis. The pre-contracted PCCSM with 10 μM phenylephrine (Phe) was accumulatively treated with extract and fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol) from E. koreanum at concentrations of 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg/mL. Icariin was performed with final concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μM. The interaction of icariin with phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, udenafil, was also examined on PCCSM contractility. Extract and three fractions had the relaxant effect on PCCSM in a dose-dependent manner and the maximum relaxation was obtained in ethyl acetate fraction. Icariin dose-dependently relaxed the PCCSM and efficiently enhanced the udenafil-induced relaxation at least two-fold. These results indicate the possibility that icariin fromE. koreanum may be a candidate for a new or alternative medicine in erectile dysfunction patients who do not completely respond to PDE-5 inhibitors.

Keyword

Epimedium koreanum; Icariin; Erectile dysfunction; Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor; Udenafil