Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of herbal extracts in rat model of erectile dysfunction

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction is a global medical condition, can affect any individual irrespective of background, causing psychological imbalances in his life. Market today is loaded with plethora of medical therapies which include oral medications, intracavernosal injection of the vasoactive agents, penile implants etc. Popping a pill, usually 5-phosphodiestrase inhibitor tops the list of medical therapy used by a patient for resort. These medications come with a payback price of associated side effects which cannot be overruled. Therefore, world today is foreseeing use of herbal medications which treat the root cause of ailment and improve overall bodily functions without causing side effects. In order to contribute to the herbal medical therapy, we analyzed the potential of Withania somnifera, Asphaltum, Tribulus terrestris, Mucuna pruriens, Asparagus racemosus and Sida cordifolia individually and synergistically in hypercholestrolemic rat model of erectile dysfunction. These herbs showed comparable pharmacological activity to sildenafil in treatment of erectile dysfunction.