Ameliorative role of β-Caryophyllene on antioxidant biomarkers in Paroxetine induced erectile dysfunctional rats

Abstract Erectile dysfunction is a leading cause of male infertility linked to oxidative stress. This study aimed to assess B-Caryophyllene (BCP) as an antioxidant on penile tissue in Paroxetine-induced rats. In vitro tests evaluated BCP's antioxidant properties, including ferric reduction, DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging, plus TBARs assays. Forty-five rats were divided into nine groups: Normal control (NC), BCP (10 mg/kg), BCP (20 mg/kg), Sildenafil citrate (SC) (20mg/kg), BCP + SC (20 mg/kg), Paroxetine (PD) (20 mg/kg), PD + BCP (10mg/kg), PD + BCP (20mg/kg), and PD + SC (20 mg/kg). PD was orally administered for seven days. BCP and SC treatments occurred from day 8 to 14. Enzyme activities (S.O.D., Catalase, G.S.T., and GPx) and TBARS were measured spectrophotometrically. PD caused erectile dysfunction, reducing mount latency (ML) and intromission latency (I.L.). BCP concentration-dependently enhanced reducing power, ABTS, OH scavenging, and % DPPH inhibition, significantly lowering %TBARS compared to sildenafil citrate. IC50 values for OH radical, DPPH, and Iron (II) ion chelation were 10.98 µg/mL, 59.14 µg/mL, and 17.36 µg/mL. In vivo, BCP significantly (p < 0.001) increased S.O.D., Catalase, and GPx activities. G.S.T. activity significantly (p < 0.01) increased with BCP (20 mg/kg). BCP (20 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.001) lowered TBARS more effectively than SC. BCP, especially at 20 mg/kg, displayed potent antioxidative effects on penile tissue in Paroxetine-induced rats.