Abstract
Aim:
To investigate the antioxidant properties of berberine (Ber) on corpus cavenosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMC) in penile erectile dysfunction.
Methods:
We examined the effects of Ber on cultured rabbit CCSMC damaged by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through examining cell viability by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and assessing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, nitric oxide (NO) products, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in cells after stimulation with H2O2.
Results:
Treatment with 1 mmol/L H2O2 significantly decreased the cell viability, NO products, and SOD activity of CCSMC from 100% to 48.57%±4.1% (P<0.01), 66.8±16.3 to 6.7±2.1 μmol/L (P<0.01), and 49.5±1.8 to 30.1±2.6 U/mL (P<0.01), respectively, and increased LDH release and MDA content from 497.6±69.5 to 1100.5±56.3 U/L (P<0.01) and 3.7±1.3 to 78.4±2.9 nmol/mg protein (P<0.01), respectively. However, treatment with different concentrations of Ber (10-1000 μmol/L) inhibited the damaging effects of H2O2, with increased cell viability (P<0.05 or P<0.01), NO production (P<0.01), and SOD activity (P<0.01) and decreased LDH release and MDA content (both P<0.01).
Conclusion:
Ber could produce its antioxidant action on oxidative stress-induced cultured CCSMC. These effects may be of benefit in the prevention of penile erectile dysfunction.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Gonzàlez-Cadavid NF, Ignarro L, Rajfer J . Nitric oxide and cyclic GMP in the penis. Mol Urol 1999; 3: 51–9.
Jones RW, Rees RW, Minhas S, Ralph D, Persad RA, Jeremy JY . Oxygen free radicals and the penis. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2002; 3: 889–97.
Karimov KhIa, Inoiatova FKh, Salikhodzhaeva USh, Kodiralieva MR . Comparative evaluation of antioxidant properties of neoselen and berberin in chronic heliotrinal hepatitis. Lik Sprava 2002; 3-4: 123–7.
Hwang JM, Wang CJ, Chou FP, Tseng TH, Hsieh YS, Lin WL, et al. Inhibitory effect of berberine on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative damage in rat liver. Arch Toxicol 2002; 76: 664–70.
Tan Y, Tang Q, Hu B, Xiang J . Modulation action of berberine on NO-cGMP signal pathway in isolated corpus cavernosum smooth muscle. Chin Pharmacol Bull 2005; 21: 435–40.
Pilatz A, Schultheiss D, Gabouev AI, Schlote N, Mertsching H, Jonas U, et al. Isolation of primary endothelial and stromal cell cultures of the corpus cavernosum penis for basic research and tissue engineering. Eur Urol 2005; 47: 710–8; 718–9.
Mosmann T . Rapid colorimetric assay for cellular growth and survival: application to proliferation and cytotoxicity assays. J Immunol Methods 1983; 65: 55–63.
Chou TC, Yen MH, Li CY, Ding YA . Alterations of nitric oxide synthase expression with aging and hypertension in rats. Hypertension 1998; 31: 643–8.
Kitamoto S, Egashira K, Kataoka C, Usui M, Koyanagi M, Takemoto M, et al. Chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in rats increases aortic superoxide anion production via the action of angiotensin II. J Hypertens 2000; 18: 1795–800.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This study was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No 30600614), the Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China (No 207072), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (No 2006ABA342), the Young Scientist Foundation of Hubei Pr ovincial Department of Education (No Q200624003), the Doctorial Initiating Program of Yunyang Medical College (No 2006QDJ09), and the Doctorial Initiating Program of Renmin Hospital (No 5).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tan, Y., Tang, Q., Hu, Br. et al. Antioxidant properties of berberine on cultured rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells injured by hydrogen peroxide. Acta Pharmacol Sin 28, 1914–1918 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7254.2007.00705.x
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7254.2007.00705.x
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Berberine mitigates diabetes-induced erectile dysfunction in rats through modulation of antioxidant status and critical enzyme activity
Comparative Clinical Pathology (2021)
-
Hepatoprotective role of berberine against paraquat-induced liver toxicity in rat
Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2020)
-
Synergic Effects of Berberine and Curcumin on Improving Cognitive Function in an Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model
Neurochemical Research (2020)
-
Activités antioxydante, apoptotique et antiproliférative de Tetraena gaetula (Emb. & Maire) Beier & Thulin et de Berberis hispanica Boiss. & Reut. originaires du Maroc
Phytothérapie (2012)