The effect of ferula elaeochytris (çakşir) root extract on erectile dysfunction in diabetes mellitus induced rats

Ferulago elaeochytris is an endemic plant known as ''ÇAKŞIR'' in our country, it is used as aphrodisiac in South and Southeast Anatolia region. There are few studies showing F .elaeochytris root extract's relaxing affect on human penile erectile tissue. Strong antioxidant and antiinflammatory affects of this extract has been suggested. Yet F. elaeochytris has not been investigated for diabetic erectile dysfunction. In this thesis study, F. elaeochytris root extract's affect on diabetes induced erectile dysfunction is investigated in in vivo and in vitro diabetic rat models. In this study, Wistar albino male rats(n=72) are divided into five groups; control group, diabetic group(60mg/kg;streptozosin; single enjection), F. elaeochytris group(40mg/kg/day), diabetes/F. elaeochytris group(40mg/kg/day) and ethanol group (%95; 1ml/day). F.elaeochytris is solved in ethanol. F. elaeochytris and ethanol administered by intragastric for 8 weeks. İntracavernousal pressure and nitrergic relaxations' erectile functions of cavernous tissue are assesed in vivo and in vitro. Data is analysed by GraphPad Prism software programme by using one way ANOVA, Bonferroni corrected t test. In our study, in the diabetic group, acetylcholine induced endothelium-dependent relaxation responses and electrical field stimulation(EFS) induced neurogenic, nitrergic relaxation responses are decreased significantly. Rats and testicles weights decreased significantly, especially testicles and cavernosal tissue histopathological examination showed excessive congestion and pathological findings in cavernous tissue. Spermatogenesis activity in testicles is decreased significantly. After administration of F. elaeochytris to diabetic rats reversed decreased nitrergic responses and intracavernousal pressure. And it also reduced, the increased blood glucose, prevented body weight and testicle weight loss, increased spermatogenesis. F. elaeochytris administrated alone and with its solvent alone did not changed the results significantly. Restorative effects of F. elaeochytris maybe due to the antioxidant effect of it or different molecules in its content. But to clarify it, further studies are needed.