IJIR: Your Sexual Medicine Journal https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-019-0137-8 ARTICLE The effect of Ferula elaeochytris root extract on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat Nadire Eser 1 ● Hacer Sinem Buyuknacar 2 ● Ozge Ozturk Cimentepe 3 ● Cemil Gocmen 3 ● Yilmaz Ucar 4 ● Seyda Erdogan 5 ● Mitsuharu Yoshiyama 6 Received: 1 November 2018 / Revised: 23 January 2019 / Accepted: 1 April 2019 © Springer Nature Limited 2019 Abstract Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an important complication of diabetes. The aim of our study was to determine whether Ferula elaeochytris (FE) root extract could affect ED in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Seventy-five adult male Wistar albino rats were equally divided into five groups; control (C), FE (40 mg/kg-d), STZ-induced diabetes (60 mg/kg) (DM), diabetes + F. elaeochytris (DM + FE), and ethanol (EtOH). After 8 weeks, in vitro and in vivo parameters (intracavernosal pressure [ICP]), testicle and body weight, serum glucose levels, and histopathology were assessed. In the STZ-induced diabetic group, acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation responses, and electrical field stimulation-induced neurogenic and nitrergic relaxation responses were decreased significantly, while FE administration to diabetic rats reversed the decreased nitrergic and neurogenic responses. In the diabetic group, ICP/MAP (0.1375 ± 0.02 cm/H 2 O), spermatogenesis in testicles (53.73 ± 0.81), and testicle weights (257.8 ± 20.63) were decreased significantly; however, FE administration to diabetic rats restored the decreased values (0.350 ± 0.019 cm/H 2 O, 75.07 ± 0.35, and 416 ± 24.11, respectively). In the DM group, blood glucose levels were increased (411.7 ± 18.30) compared to the C group. However, FE administration to diabetic rats reduced glucose levels (230.6 ± 25.60 mg/dL) compared to the DM group. In conclusion, FE recovered neurogenic and endothelial dysfunction and decreased glucose levels in diabetic rats. Introduction Penile erection resulting to interaction of the neurovas- cular system, hormonal and cavernosal structure, is characterised by arterial blood flow to the corpus cavernosum, relaxation of sinusoidal smooth muscles, and decreased venous return. Erectile capacity is determined by vascular tonus of the penis; inability to achieve or maintain erectile tonus during sexual activity is defined as erectile dysfunction (ED) [1]. Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disorder of glucose mobilisation, transport, and metabolism that causes ED due to smooth muscle damage, vascular disorders, endothelial dysfunction, autonomic neuropathy, and hormonal imbal- ance. Diabetes is a significant disease with many compli- cations; one of the most frequent complications is ED. The prevalence of ED among diabetic men is 50–70% [2]. Diabetes mellitus is estimated to affect more than 150 million people worldwide, and recent findings have sug- gested that it will affect ~300 million people in 2025 [3]. Plants with aphrodisiac properties have been the centre of attention since ancient times. Many studies have been performed on plants that may alleviate ED and diabetes, and attempts were made to configure formalisations that may benefit patients. There are roughly 170 species in the Ferula genus; this plant is found in arid climates and 17 different varieties have been reported in Turkey [4, 5]. Ferula has * Nadire Eser esernadire01@hotmail.com 1 Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam, Kahramanmaras, Turkey 2 Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, University of Cukurova, Adana 01330, Turkey 3 Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Cukurova, Adana 01330, Turkey 4 Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Seafood Processing Technology, University of Cukurova, Adana 01330, Turkey 5 Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Cukurova, Adana 01330, Turkey 6 Department of Urology, University of Yamanashi Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan 1234567890();,: 1234567890();,: