Potential and mechanisms of indigenous Indonesian medicinal plants in treating sexual dysfunction: A systematic review and pharmacological network overview

The epidemiology of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) continues to exhibit an increasing trend annually. The use of synthetic drugs in treating ED often leads to undesirable side effects and has limited efficacy. In Indonesia, several indigenous plants have been empirically utilized for ED remediation. This...

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Main Authors: Sukardiman, Roihatul Mutiah, Rosita Handayani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025008813
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author Sukardiman
Roihatul Mutiah
Rosita Handayani
author_facet Sukardiman
Roihatul Mutiah
Rosita Handayani
author_sort Sukardiman
collection DOAJ
description The epidemiology of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) continues to exhibit an increasing trend annually. The use of synthetic drugs in treating ED often leads to undesirable side effects and has limited efficacy. In Indonesia, several indigenous plants have been empirically utilized for ED remediation. This study aims to identify the latest scientific evidence on the potential of native Indonesian medicinal plants for ED treatment and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms using a systematic review and Pharmacological Network approach. There are 12 potential plants most commonly used by ethnic groups in Indonesia to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) as reviewed in this study. A systematic review search was conducted across three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Springer) without limiting the publication years. Article screening was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowchart. Determination of compound target genes was carried out using GeneCards, while disease target genes were analyzed using DisGeNET. Network topology was explored with Cytoscape 3.10, and the construction of Protein-Protein Interaction Networks was realized using STRING version 12.0. GO and KEGG analyses were subsequently conducted with SRplot. The systematic review findings indicated that 12 articles met the predefined inclusion criteria. The pharmacology network analysis demonstrated that the compounds present in Eurycoma longifolia, specifically stigmasterol, eurycomanone, and eurycomalactone, target 13 genes associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), which include BCL2, AKT1, SOAT1, PCSK9, ACHE, BDNF-AS, TMX2-CTNND1, GSK3B, LINCO1672, TP53, H19, HIF1A, and IL1B. These target genes are connected to the biological mechanisms underlying steroid hormone biosynthesis, which is essential for the formation of testosterone. Therefore, Eurycoma longifolia demonstrates significant potential for development as a promising phytopharmaceutical candidate in the treatment of sexual dysfunction.
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spelling doaj-art-0ce7238c731c4f349abc1f0376a68d062025-02-09T05:00:42ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-02-01113e42501Potential and mechanisms of indigenous Indonesian medicinal plants in treating sexual dysfunction: A systematic review and pharmacological network overview Sukardiman0Roihatul Mutiah1Rosita Handayani2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, IndonesiaDepartment of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang 65144, Indonesia; Corresponding author.Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, IndonesiaThe epidemiology of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) continues to exhibit an increasing trend annually. The use of synthetic drugs in treating ED often leads to undesirable side effects and has limited efficacy. In Indonesia, several indigenous plants have been empirically utilized for ED remediation. This study aims to identify the latest scientific evidence on the potential of native Indonesian medicinal plants for ED treatment and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms using a systematic review and Pharmacological Network approach. There are 12 potential plants most commonly used by ethnic groups in Indonesia to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) as reviewed in this study. A systematic review search was conducted across three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Springer) without limiting the publication years. Article screening was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flowchart. Determination of compound target genes was carried out using GeneCards, while disease target genes were analyzed using DisGeNET. Network topology was explored with Cytoscape 3.10, and the construction of Protein-Protein Interaction Networks was realized using STRING version 12.0. GO and KEGG analyses were subsequently conducted with SRplot. The systematic review findings indicated that 12 articles met the predefined inclusion criteria. The pharmacology network analysis demonstrated that the compounds present in Eurycoma longifolia, specifically stigmasterol, eurycomanone, and eurycomalactone, target 13 genes associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), which include BCL2, AKT1, SOAT1, PCSK9, ACHE, BDNF-AS, TMX2-CTNND1, GSK3B, LINCO1672, TP53, H19, HIF1A, and IL1B. These target genes are connected to the biological mechanisms underlying steroid hormone biosynthesis, which is essential for the formation of testosterone. Therefore, Eurycoma longifolia demonstrates significant potential for development as a promising phytopharmaceutical candidate in the treatment of sexual dysfunction.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025008813AphrodisiacsErectile dysfunctionEurycomanoneStigmasterolTestosterone
spellingShingle Sukardiman
Roihatul Mutiah
Rosita Handayani
Potential and mechanisms of indigenous Indonesian medicinal plants in treating sexual dysfunction: A systematic review and pharmacological network overview
Heliyon
Aphrodisiacs
Erectile dysfunction
Eurycomanone
Stigmasterol
Testosterone
title Potential and mechanisms of indigenous Indonesian medicinal plants in treating sexual dysfunction: A systematic review and pharmacological network overview
title_full Potential and mechanisms of indigenous Indonesian medicinal plants in treating sexual dysfunction: A systematic review and pharmacological network overview
title_fullStr Potential and mechanisms of indigenous Indonesian medicinal plants in treating sexual dysfunction: A systematic review and pharmacological network overview
title_full_unstemmed Potential and mechanisms of indigenous Indonesian medicinal plants in treating sexual dysfunction: A systematic review and pharmacological network overview
title_short Potential and mechanisms of indigenous Indonesian medicinal plants in treating sexual dysfunction: A systematic review and pharmacological network overview
title_sort potential and mechanisms of indigenous indonesian medicinal plants in treating sexual dysfunction a systematic review and pharmacological network overview
topic Aphrodisiacs
Erectile dysfunction
Eurycomanone
Stigmasterol
Testosterone
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025008813
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