Date (Phoenix dactylifera L. Mill) fruit enhances sexual performance via modulation of oxido-inflammatory mediators and purinergic signaling in hypertensive male rats

Abstract

Introduction

The present study aimed at investigating the effect of dietary supplementation of Phoenix dactylifera, an important component of aphrodisiac supplements, on sexual performance, oxido-inflammatory mediators and purinergic signaling system in hypertensive rats.

Material and methods

Hypertension was induced via oral administration of 40 mg/kg L-NAME. Thereafter, the sexual performance of the experimental animals was determined and the hypertensive rats with impaired sexual activities were placed on P. dactylifera-supplemented diet for 21 days, and the effects of the treatment on the overall sexual behavior, antioxidant status, oxido-inflammatory biomarkers, and enzyme activity of the purinergic system were assessed.

Results

Hypertensive rats showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in sexual performance, elevated level of oxido-inflammatory mediators, and altered purinergic enzymes activity when compared with the control. However, sub-chronic feeding with P. dactylifera-supplemented diet improved sexual performance, significantly lowered oxido-inflammatory biomarkers, and enhanced the activity of purinergic enzymes in hypertensive rats.

Conclusion

Findings presented in this study suggest that dietary inclusion of P. dactylifera could be useful in managing erectile dysfunction (ED) commonly observed in subjects with hypertension. Findings highlighted in this study thus provide the scientific basis supporting the folkloric use of P. dactylifera as a key ingredient in aphrodisiac supplements.

Keywords:

• Phoenix dactylifera
• inflammatory markers
• hypertension
• purinergic system

Authors’ contribution

Adeniyi A. Adebayo: conceptualization, funding acquisition, experimental, data analysis, validation, writing – original draft, review and editing. Ayokunle O. Ademosun: conceptualization, supervision, writing – original draft, review and editing. Ganiyu Oboh: conceptualization, supervision, writing – review.

Disclosure statement

None of the authors has conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.