phytoestrogens and Erectile-Dysfunction

Article presents the latest knowledge on the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction (ED), the influence of xenoestrogens on ED and fertility in men and the possibilities of the blocking xenoestrogen actions with natural ingredients as well as treatment options for ED with medicinal plants. With the rising phenomenon of ED in the world there is rising a market with ED treatment products. Especially in menu of internet online shops come increasingly to light new natural over the counter products for ED treatment. Sale and use of medicinal plants and their extracts in the treatment of ED is based according to the declaration of the producers first of all on a number of the thousand-year-old traditions in some nations, based on the efficacy and safety of these plants, verified in the healing practice. Aim of this article was to make an extensive review of the scientific and professional literature and to find out which medical plants, sold in the herbal products for ED, was evaluated for efficacy and safety in relevant clinical trials. The review of the literature shows, that by some marketed medicinal plants lack clinical studies, the results of some clinical studies related to the same medicinal plant are controversial and some bring significantly positive effects, but their number is minimal. The future is therefore open to starting the number of new clinical trials testing the medicinal plants in the treatment of ED with possible inclusion of some of these plants in evidence based medicine, if confirming their efficacy and safety.

Topics: Disease Progression; Erectile Dysfunction; Estrogen Antagonists; Humans; Male; Phytoestrogens; Phytotherapy; Prevalence; Regeneration

Oestrogens are not exclusive to the female gender but occur in moderate circulating levels of 25-70 pg ml⁻¹ in men, compared to 44-153 pg ml⁻¹ in women. Arising from aromatisation of testosterone (T), oestrogen is considered to have many opposing physiological functions and the progressive T decline in the aging male is associated with relative and/or absolute increase in serum oestradiol (E₂). Sexual disinterest and erectile dysfunction (ED) in the elderly may well be due to pathophysiological E₂-T imbalance; the altered hormonal ratio may also explain the higher incidence of ED in hyperestrogenism or following exposure to environmental/plant oestrogens.

Topics: Aged; Aging; Erectile Dysfunction; Estradiol; Estrogens; Humans; Male; Phytoestrogens; Risk Factors; Testosterone

Ageing in man is associated with a decline in testosterone following changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis. This may offset the physiologic equilibrium between oestrogen and androgen and at some point when the ratio of free testosterone to oestradiol reaches a critical level, the oestrogenic gonadotropin suppressive effect predominates with decreased release of FSH and LH. Adding to this endocrinal complexity is the continued peripheral conversion to oestradiol through aromatisation. Although the androgen deficiency is not the sole cause for impotence in the elderly, there is a gradual decrease in nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) and spontaneous morning erections with ageing. Despite the age related increase in oestrogen levels, the information on the pathophysiological role of the "female hormone" in erectile dysfunction has been scanty. Together with our identification of oestrogen receptors within the penile cavernosum, we have delineated dysfunctional changes on male erection mediated by oestradiol. These findings parallel the recent concerns over environmental oestrogens on fertility declines in young men. Oestrogenic activity is also present in plants and thereby in human diet. These phytoestrogens are structurally and functionally similar to oestradiol and more potent than the environmental oestrogenic chemicals such as organochlorine and phenolic compounds. Thus in the light of growing concerns of possible compromising effects on sexuality by endogenous and environmental oestrogens, we are faced with the scientific need to delineate their role on the mechanism of male erectile pathway in health and disease for clinical correlates and prognostics.

Topics: Aged; Aging; Androgens; Erectile Dysfunction; Estrogens; Humans; Hypogonadism; Isoflavones; Male; Phytoestrogens; Plant Preparations; Testosterone

The majority of instruments used to evaluate menopausal symptoms are long and complex. In this sense, more simple tests are being designed to rapidly obtain a snapshot of the global clinical picture.. To assess menopausal symptoms in mid-aged women using the short 10 item version of the original menopause Cervantes Scale (CS-10).. This was a cross sectional study in which a total of 451 Ecuadorian women (40-59 years) were surveyed with the CS-10 and a general socio-demographic questionnaire containing personal and partner data.. Median age of the whole sample was 48 years. A 41.2% were postmenopausal, 44.3% abdominally obese (waist circumference >88cm), 6% diabetic, 16.9% hypertense, 11.5% smoked, 6.9% currently used hormone therapy, 9.5% phytoestrogens and 6.7% psychotropic drugs. For the entire sample, median [interquartile range] CS-10 global scores were 10.0 [9.5], and for pre-, peri- and postmenopausal women: 5.0 [7.0], 11.0 [9.0] and 13.5 [8.0], respectively. The CS-10 displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.87). According to the CS-10, the three most prevalent menopausal symptoms were: muscle and joint pains (88.5%), hot flushes (77.6%) and skin dryness (71.4%). Multiple linear regression analysis found that postmenopausal status, parity, unhealthy perceived status, psychotropic drug use, partner erectile dysfunction, lower coital frequency and living at high altitude were related to higher CS-10 global scores.. In this mid-aged Ecuadorian female sample severity of menopausal symptoms, as determined by the CS-10, were related to environmental and female/partner personal and socio-demographical aspects.

Topics: Adult; Arthralgia; Attitude to Health; Coitus; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus; Ecuador; Erectile Dysfunction; Female; Hormone Replacement Therapy; Hot Flashes; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Menopause; Middle Aged; Myalgia; Obesity, Abdominal; Parity; Perimenopause; Phytoestrogens; Postmenopause; Premenopause; Psychotropic Drugs; Smoking

To investigate the effect of Bushengzhuyang Fang (Yangjing Capsule, YJC) on penile erectile function and its action mechanisms in rats.. Fifty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups of equal number: blank control, daidzein, daidzein + testosterone, daidzein + sildenafil, daidzein + low-dose YJC, daidzein + medium-dose YJC, and daidzein + high-dose YJC. The rats in the blank control group were treated intragastrically with normal saline and those in the other groups with daidzein at the dose of 100 mg per kg per day for 30 days. Then the last five groups received additionally testosterone (4 mg per kg per day), sildenafil (2.5 mg per kg per day), low-dose YJC, (0.315 mg per kg per day), medium-dose YJC (0.63 mg per kg per day), and high-dose YJC (1. 26 mg per kg per day), respectively. At 0, 30 and 60 days of treatment, we observed the apomorphine-induced spontaneous erectile response and pathological changes in the corpus cavernosum of the rats, recorded the number of penile erection and erectile incubation period, and determined the serum levels of testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH).. At 30 days of treatment, the number of apomorphine-induced erections was decreased, the erectile incubation period prolonged, and the serum levels of T and LH reduced remarkably in all groups of rats (P < 0.05). Compared with the findings at 30 days, the number of penile erections was significantly decreased at 60 days in the daidzein group (1.39 ± 0.42 vs 2.67 ± 0.33, P < 0.05) and daidzein + low-dose YJC group (1.33 ± 0.49 vs 2.83 ± 0.61, P < 0.05); the erectile incubation period was markedly ex- tended ([16.33 ± 3.11] vs [8.50 ± 0.93] min and [15.50 ± 3.21] vs [8.63 ± 1.54] min, P < 0.05); and the serum levels of T ([5.34 ± 0.89] vs [1.24 ± 0.30] ng/ml and [5.28 ± 1.12] vs [2.07 ± 0.76] ng/ml, P < 0.05) and LH ([3.62 ± 0.37] vs [2.09 ± 0.12] ng/ml and [3.79 ± 0.28] vs [2.17 ± 0.33] ng/ml, P < 0.05) were significantly reduced in the daidzein and daidzein + low-dose YJC groups, respectively. Pathological examination revealed slightly decreased cavernous sinuses and blood vessels in the corpus cavernosum of the rats in the daidzein + testosterone, daidzein + sildenafil, daidzein + medium-dose YJC, and daidzein + high-dose YJC groups as compared with those in the blank control group.. High-dose Yangjing Capsule is efficacious for the recovery of erectile function in rats, especially for phytoestrogen-induced erectile dysfunction.

Topics: Animals; Apomorphine; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Erectile Dysfunction; Humans; Isoflavones; Luteinizing Hormone; Male; Penile Erection; Penis; Phytoestrogens; Phytotherapy; Piperazines; Purines; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sildenafil Citrate; Sulfonamides; Testosterone; Vasodilator Agents