Potential mechanism of Achyranthis bidentatae radix plus semen vaccariae granules in the treatment of diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction in rats utilizing combined experimental model and network pharmacology

Abstract

Context Achyranthes bidentata Blume (Amaranthaceae) (ABR) and semen vaccariae (SV) are used commonly in the clinical treatment of erectile dysfunction in males with diabetes mellitus (DMED) to strengthen the kidney and promote blood circulation, and often achieve good curative effects. Objective Explore mechanistic details of ABR + SV treatment against DMED. Materials and methods Prediction of key targets by network pharmacology. A rat model of DM was established by streptozotocin injection (55 mg/kg). Apomorphine (100 μg/kg) was injected into rats to screen the DMED model. Group C ( n = 6) and group M ( n = 6) were gavaged with deionized water; group T ( n = 6) was given Achyranthis bidentatae radix– semen vaccariae granule suspension (2.5 g/kg). It lasted 8 weeks. Real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting (WB) were used to measure the expression of tissue-related proteins and mRNA. Results The predicted key targets are albumin (ALB), caspase-3 (CASP3), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Compared with the M group (0.52 ± 0.04; 0.50 ± 0.03; 0.49 ± 0.02; 0.23 ± 0.03), CASP3, VEGFA, and ACE protein expression reduced in the T group (0.39 ± 0.06; 0.34 ± 0.03; 0.39 ± 0.03), and eNOS protein expression increased (0.34 ± 0.03). Conclusion ABR + SV can improve erectile function in DMED rats. This study provides a potential mechanism for the treatment of DMED with ABR + SV and can benefit from more patients.

Traditional chinese medicine to prevent and treat diabetic erectile dysfunction

“…However, Achyranthes bidentata Blume and Gypsophila vaccaria (L.) Sm. can downregulate these two proteins ( Wang et al, 2021a ). Additionally, in comparison with healthy rats, the number of blood-containing sinuses in the cavernous body of diabetic rats is significantly reduced, accompanied by a reduction in the densities of endothelial and smooth-muscle cells.…”

“…Combinatorial treatment with Achyranthes bidentata Blume and Gypsophila vaccaria (L.) Sm. increases the density of endothelial cells ( Wang et al, 2021a ).…”

Baicalin Rescues Cognitive Dysfunction, Mitigates Neurodegeneration, and Exerts Anti-Epileptic Effects Through Activating TLR4/MYD88/Caspase-3 Pathway in Rats

“…69,70 It is an interactive network based on the concept of "disease-gene-target-drug" to reveal the complex mechanism of drugs on the human body. 71 In this study, we have adopted a combination of network pharmacology and experimental verification to explore the anti-epileptic possible regulatory mechanism of BA in PTZ-induced epileptic rats. 112 targets of BA were collected from different databases.…”