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Exploring the Role of Plant Secondary Metabolites for Aphrodisiacs

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Plant Specialized Metabolites

Part of the book series: Reference Series in Phytochemistry ((RSP))

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Abstract

Plants produce many secondary metabolites that lead to defensive mechanisms and regulate signaling for defense against herbivores, pests, and diseases. The plant secondary metabolites are made of polyphenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, etc., which are new lead molecules in drug discovery research of aphrodisiacs. Plants and their formulations (external, oral solid and liquid dosage) have been used traditionally to treat various issues, including male penile erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is a chronic disorder characterized by the inability to achieve and sustain a penile erection, resulting in unsatisfying sexual intercourse. This chapter presents a brief overview of male inadequacy, factors influencing the induction of pathophysiology of ED, and corrective modalities and also discusses currently available treatment strategies and their adverse reactions and alternative therapies for safely treating ED.

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Abbreviations

ACE:

Angiotensin-converting enzyme

AChE:

Acetylcholinesterase

Akt:

Protein kinase B

cGMP:

L-arginine-nitric oxide-guanylyl cyclase-cyclic guanosine monophosphate

COX2:

Cyclooxygenase-2

ED:

Erectile dysfunction

ER:

Estrogen receptor

eNOS:

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase

FDA:

Food and Drug Administration

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

iNOS:

Inducible nitric oxide synthase

LH:

Luteinizing hormone

NF-kB:

Nuclear factor kappa B

nNOS:

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase

NO:

Nitrous oxide

PDE5:

Phosphodiesterase type 5 enzyme

PI3K:

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases

PKG:

Protein kinase G

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SD:

Sexual dysfunction

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, Virudhunagar, India

    Selvaraj Kunjiappan, Sureshbabu Ram Kumar Pandian & Shanmugampillai Jeyarajaguru Kabilan

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Swamy Vivekanandha College of Pharmacy, Elayampalayam, Namakkal, India

    Theivendren Panneerselvam

  3. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru, India

    Parasuraman Pavadai

  4. Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani, Rajasthan, India

    Murugesan Sankaranarayanan

Authors
  1. Selvaraj Kunjiappan
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  2. Sureshbabu Ram Kumar Pandian
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  3. Theivendren Panneerselvam
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  4. Parasuraman Pavadai
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  5. Shanmugampillai Jeyarajaguru Kabilan
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  6. Murugesan Sankaranarayanan
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Correspondence to Selvaraj Kunjiappan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences, University of Bordeaux, Villenave d'Ornon, France

    Jean-Michel Mérillon

  2. Department of Botany, M. L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

    Kishan Gopal Ramawat

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Kunjiappan, S., Pandian, S.R.K., Panneerselvam, T., Pavadai, P., Kabilan, S.J., Sankaranarayanan, M. (2023). Exploring the Role of Plant Secondary Metabolites for Aphrodisiacs. In: Mérillon, JM., Ramawat, K.G. (eds) Plant Specialized Metabolites. Reference Series in Phytochemistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30037-0_16-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30037-0_16-1

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