title: Vasoactivity, antioxidant and aphrodisiac properties of Caesalpinia benthamiana roots.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Caesalpinia benthamiana (=Mezoneuron benthamianum) (Fabaceae) is an African tropical plant whose roots are used in traditional medicine as an aqueous decoction for many purposes, especially for erection impairment but its action mechanism is unknown. The action of Caesalpinia benthamiana on sexual behaviour and some assays on potential modes of action were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aqueous extract of Caesalpinia benthamiana (AECB) was tested for vasorelaxing properties using isolated rat aortic rings precontracted by phenylephrine. Influence of AECB in the production of endothelial isoform of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) analysis. Scavenging activities versus reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion (O(2).(-)), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) were assessed. Action of AECB on the cellular generation of O(2).(-) was also tested in a physiopathology model of oxidative burst using human polymorphonuclear neutrophils stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate. The aphrodisiac properties of AECB administered orally by gavage (50 mg/kg body weight) to male rats were evaluated by observing the sexual behaviour of animals. Finally, a short-term toxicity study was undertaken to establish the therapeutic index of AECB administered orally to rats at high dose (2 g/kg body weight).
  
  
  RESULTS
  C. benthamiana roots are rich in phenolic compounds (gallic acid, resveratrol and tannins). The results showed that AECB had significant vasorelaxing properties. The extract also had a strong radical activity against ROS in cell-free and cellular systems and stimulated eNOS mRNA expression. As for the aphrodisiac activity of AECB in male rats, results have shown that sexual parameters are stimulated. Furthermore, after oral administration at high dose, AECB causes no mortality or changes in rats' behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AECB enhanced the sexual activity of male rats. This could be partly explained by its vasorelaxant properties, which may be caused by an increase in NO production in vascular bed and a decrease in its destruction.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Pharmacognosie, E.A. 1043, Université de Lille 2, Faculté de Pharmacie B.P. 83, 59006 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamblé
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martin-Nizard
authors.forename: Sevser
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahpaz
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hennebelle
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Staels
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bordet
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duriez
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bailleul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001046:Aphrodisiacs / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029911:Caesalpinia / Q000737:chemistry; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001046:Aphrodisiacs; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009249:NADP