Abstract
We used Box-Behnken design-based (BBD) response surface methodology (RSM) in this research to optimize the extraction process of Traditional medicine Majun Mupakhi Ela (MME) and evaluate its effect on hydrocortisone-induced kidney yang deficiency. Three independent parameters were applied to evaluate the maximum phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibition activity of MME extracts in vitro. The optimal processing conditions (extraction time 2 h, solid-liquid ratio 1:16, extraction once) gave a maximum PDE5 inhibition rate of 84.10%, flavonoid content of 0.49 mg/ml, icariin content of 0.028 mg/ml and targeted extraction yield of 26.50%. In animal experiments, MME extracts significantly increased the adrenal mass index, semen weight index, preputial gland weight index, and penis weight index in mice; in the middle and high dose group, the level of serum testosterone increased by 7664.29% and 14207.14% respectively, compared with the model group, and the level of PDE5 decreased by 67.22% and 74.69% respectively compared with the control group. These results indicate that MME has a significant positive effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis, improve mating ability and not only has inhibits PDE5 activity but also significantly inhibits the expression of PDE5 in penile tissues, potential to become erectile dysfunction (ED) therapies for the clinical management of patients with kidney yang deficiency.