Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 2007 December; 28 (12): 1914-1918; doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2007.00705.x

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.

Keywords: berberine; antioxidant action; corpus cavernosum; erectile dysfunction