Abstract

Tetracarpidium conophorum (walnut) is used in folk medicine for the treatment of erectile dysfunction but the mechanism remains unclear. This study evaluated the effect of aqueous extract from T conophorum leaves on oxidative stress-induced penile damage and key enzymes linked to erectile dysfunction. The inhibitory effect of the extract on sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced lipid peroxidation, arginase, angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in penile and testicular tissue homogenates were determined via colorimetric method. The aqueous extract inhibited SNP-induced lipid peroxidation in rats penile and testicular homogenates in a dose dependent manner. The highest inhibitory effect was obtained in the penis at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. Furthermore, the extract inhibited arginase activity in a dose dependent pattern. The IC50 revealed that the extract had significantly (P

Key words: Tetracarpidium conophorum; erectile dysfunction; arginase; angiotensin-I converting enzyme, acetylcholinesterase