Aframomum melegueta prevents the ejaculatory complications of propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroidism in sexually experienced male rats: Evidence from intravaginal and fictive ejaculations

Deciphering phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors from Aframemum melegueta: computational models against erectile dysfunction

Insufficient and inability to maintain erection in male for satisfactory sexual performance remains global challenge among couples. The identification of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) antagonist in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction has improved the search for therapeutic agents for the management of this sexual dysfunction. Here in, bioactive compounds from Aframomum melegueta were virtually screened against PDE-5 using Schrodinger suite 2017-1 as computational tool. The lead compound was further validated in comparison with sildenafil by performing 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation using Desmond. Among 109 bioactive compounds screened, nine (9) molecules were predicted as potent inhibitors of PDE-5 with binding affinities comparable to the co-crystalized ligand (sildenafil). 1,7-bis(3,4-dihyroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)heptane-3,5-diyldiacetate was observed to have the best docking score (-11.522 kcal/mol) among the hit compounds which is very close to the co-crystalized ligand (-11.872 kcal/mol). Validation using pharmacophore hypothesis and QSAR modeling further confirmed the prediction of the hit compounds with fitness score ranging from 0.754 to 2.605 and predicted pIC50 of 3.835 to 7.976 µM. All the hit compounds obeyed Lipinski's rule of five and within the reference range of the pharmacokinetics parameters. The MD simulation result predicted the stability of 1,7-bis(3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)heptane-3,5-diyldiacetate-PDE-5 complex comparable to the sildenafil-PDE-5 complex. The outcome of this study predicted nine molecules from A. melegueta as potent PDE-5 antagonists which required isolation and experimental validation for the management of erectile dysfunction.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00284-3.

The global prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with thyroid gland disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

fluctuation in serum levels of thyroid hormones or thyroid-associated dysfunction can negatively affect the sexual behaviors or performance, and disruption in couples` relationship or satisfaction. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis study was aimed to investigate the global prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with thyroid gland disorders (TGD).

Methods

this systematic review and meta-analysis study conducted based on PRISMA statement criteria regarding the available evidences representing the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with TGD. The initial searching process was applied on July, 2023. In this era, the main keywords of "Prevalence", "Sexual disorders", "Sexual disorder", "Sexual dysfunction", "Male sexual dysfunction", "Erectile dysfunction", "Males", "Men", "Thyroid disorders", "Thyroid diseases", "Hyperthyroidism", "Thyroid", and "Thyroiditis" were hired. Also, "AND" and "OR" operators were used for keywords combination. All intended studies were searched using the databases of Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Embase. Random effects model was used to perform the analysis and the heterogeneity of the studies was assessed through I2 index. Data analysis was applied with CMA software (v.2).

Results

following the assessment of 17 eligible studies with a sample size of 501 individuals, the global prevalence of male sexual dysfunction with TGD was found 51.5% (95% CI:38.7-64). Also, the prevalence of male sexual dysfunction in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism cases was 59.1% (95% CI:37.2-77.8) and 41.5% (95% CI:25.9-59.1), respectively. The meta-regression analysis showed that following incremental trend in sample size, the global prevalence of male sexual dysfunction with TGD decreases. This assessment also revealed that the prevalence of male sexual dysfunction increases with the year of study conduction, significantly (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

the global prevalence of sexual dysfunction in men with TGD was found relatively high. also, the highest prevalence of sexual disorders was reported in hypothyroid cases. Thus, health policymakers are suggested to inform the individuals prone to this pathology regarding the negative effects of TGD on sexual dysfunction. Besides, TGD-affected cases can prevent sexual disorders and unpleasant consequences through timely medical treatments.

Combined levothyroxine and testosterone treatment for restoring erectile dysfunction in propylthiouracil-induced hypothyroid rats

BACKGROUND

Sexual dysfunction may indicate severe endocrine diseases. Recent research has suggested a link between hypothyroidism, low testosterone (T) levels, and erectile dysfunction (ED); however, the exact cause is unknown.

AIM

We sought to investigate possible beneficial effects of levothyroxine and T alone or in combination on ED in propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroid rats.

METHODS

Adult Wistar rats (n = 35) were divided into 5 groups: control, PTU-induced hypothyroidism, PTU + levothyroxine, PTU + Sustanon (a mixture of 4 types of T: propionate, phenylpropionate, isocaproate, and decanoate) and PTU + levothyroxine + Sustanon. PTU was given in drinking water for 6 weeks. Four weeks after PTU administration, levothyroxine (20 μg microgram kg/day, oral) and Sustanon (10 mg/kg/week, intramuscular) were given for 2 weeks. Serum levels of total T, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) were determined. In vivo erectile response and in vitro relaxant responses were measured. Localization of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS), and phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) were determined using immunohistochemical analysis. The relative area of smooth muscle to collagen was measured using Masson trichrome staining.

OUTCOMES

Outcome variables included in vivo erectile function, in vitro relaxant and contractile responses of corpus cavernosum (CC) strips; protein localization of eNOS, nNOS, and PDE5; and smooth muscle content in penile tissue.

RESULTS

The rat model of hypothyroidism showed a significant decline in serum levels of total T, T3, and T4. Levothyroxine increased T3 and T4 levels, whereas Sustanon normalized only total T levels. Combined treatment enhanced all hormone levels. Rats with hypothyroidism displayed the lowest erectile response (P < 0.001 vs controls). Combined treatment returned reduced responses, while partial amelioration was observed after levothyroxine and Sustanon treatment alone. Acetylcholine (P < 0.01 vs controls), electrical field stimulation (P < 0.001 vs controls), and sildenafil-induced relaxant responses (P < 0.05 vs controls) were decreased in the CC strips from hypothyroid rats. The combined treatment increased the reduction in relaxation responses. Levothyroxine and Sustanon restored decreases in eNOS and nNOS expression in the hypothyroid group. There was no significant difference in PDE5 expression among groups. Monotreatment partially enhanced reduced smooth muscle mass, while combined therapy completely recovered.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The combination of thyroid hormones and T is likely to be a therapeutic approach for treatment of hypothyroidism-induced ED in men.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

Beneficial effects of levothyroxine and Sustanon treatment were shown in vitro and in vivo in PTU-induced hypothyroid rats. The main limitation of the study was the lack of measurement of androgen-sensitive organ weights and luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin levels.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that neurogenic and endothelium-dependent relaxation responses are reduced by hypothyroidism, which is detrimental to T levels and erectile responses. Levothyroxine and Sustanon combination medication was able to counteract this effect.

Thirty days oral Aframomum melegueta extract elicited analgesic effect but influenced cytochrome p4501BI, cardiac troponin T, testicular alfa-fetoprotein and other biomarkers in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pain is the commonest symptom of a disease and the percentage of persons manifesting one form of pain is growing globally. Aframomum melegueta (AM) is commonly used by traditional doctors as medication for many ailments such as body pains and rheumatism because it possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic, antiviral, anti-ageing and anti-tumour phytochemical agents.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Traditionally a botanical remedy in the management of pain was assessed. A common tropical plant Aframomum melegueta (AM) was evaluated for the amelioration of pain. For further pharmacologic understanding sensitive marker were used to assess the effect of the extract on the organ as a multifaceted approach to the evaluation of safety and analgesic efficacy.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Sensitive biomarkers such as troponin-T (CTnT), cardiac troponin-I (CTnI), interleukin-beta (IL-β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α) were evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method and electrocardiographic parameters were also evaluated. The dynamics of concentrations of the various subfamilies of cytochrome were also assessed using ELISA in the evaluation of thirty-day oral AM, while histopathological changes of organs were also observed.

RESULTS

Thirty-day oral AM doses 40 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg showed analgesic potential but influenced IL-6 level, IL-1β, TNF-α and P-LCR. Electrocardiographic parameters showed the extract had arrhythmogenic effects the other cardiac parameters influenced was CTnT. The testicular alfa-fetoprotein and prostate specific antigen were also influenced. There were also some histopathological changes.

CONCLUSIONS

The extract showed analgesic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potential with possible adverse effects consistent with testicular and prostate cancers, cardiovascular complication, hepatic congestion and cholestasis.

The Great Healing Potential Hidden in Plant Preparations of Antioxidant Properties: A Return to Nature?

The application of chemicals in industry and agriculture has contributed to environmental pollution and exposure of living organisms to harmful factors. The development of new pharmaceutical agents enabled successful therapy of various diseases, but their administration may be connected with side effects. Oxidative stress has been found to be involved into etiology of numerous diseases as well as harmful action of drugs and chemicals. For some time, plant origin substances have been studied as potential protective agents alleviating toxicity of various substances and symptoms of diseases. The aim of the current review was to present the diversity of the research performed during the last five years on animal models. The outcomes showed a huge protective potential inherent in plant preparations, including alleviating prooxidative processes, strengthening antioxidant defence, ameliorating immune parameters, and reversing histopathological changes. In many cases, plant origin substances were proved to be comparable or even better than standard drugs. Such findings let us suggest that in the future the plant preparations could make adjuvants or a replacement for pharmaceutical agents. However, the detailed research regarding dose and way of administration as well as the per se effects needs to be performed. In many studies, the last issue was not studied, and in some cases, the deleterious effects have been observed.