title: Efficacy of ellagic acid and sildenafil in diabetes-induced sexual dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes induced sexual dysfunction is a leading cause of male sexual disorder and an early indicator of cardiovascular complication. Reactive oxygen species generated in body during diabetes is a main causative factor for erectile dysfunction, a sexual dysfunction. Adjuvant antioxidant therapy along with phosphodiesterases type 5 enzyme inhibitor (PDE5i) is more effective than PDE5i alone.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate efficacy of ellagic acid a known antioxidant and sildenafil in diabetes induced erectile dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Type 1 diabetes was induced in male rats and rats were treated with ellagic acid (50 mg/kg, p.o.) and a combination of ellagic acid (50 mg/kg, p.o.) and sildenafil (5 mg/kg, p.o.), a PDE5i for 28 days. Sexual function was observed in diabetic rat and compared with those of treatment group and normal rats. Effect of ellagic acid was studied on advanced glycation end products (AGE) and isolated rat corpus cavernosum in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sexual function of diabetic rats was found to be reduced and ellegic acid treatment could preserve sexual function of diabetic rats to some extent. Ellagic acid + sildenafil treatment was more efficient in management of diabetes induced sexual dysfunction. Ellagic acid inhibited (AGE) in vitro implying its role in reducing oxidative stress in diabetes. The polyphenol could not increase sexual function in normal rats and relax isolated rat corpus cavernosum smooth muscle significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study proves usefulness of adjuvant antioxidant therapy in the management of erectile dysfunction in diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Near Lalbagh main gate, Hosur Main Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sumanta Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Goswami
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Near Lalbagh main gate, Hosur Main Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Manikanta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vishwanath
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Near Lalbagh main gate, Hosur Main Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Suma Kallahalli
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gangadarappa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Near Lalbagh main gate, Hosur Main Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Rema
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Razdan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Near Lalbagh main gate, Hosur Main Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Mohammed Naseeruddin
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Inamdar
keywords: AGE; Diabetes; corpus cavernosum smooth muscle; ellagic acid; sexual dysfunction; sildenafil