Regulation of Signaling Pathways Related to Diabetes Mellitus-induced Erectile Dysfunction by Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20250699
- VernacularTitle:中药调控糖尿病性勃起功能障碍相关信号通路的研究进展
- Author:
Yinxia LIU
1
;
Dan YANG
2
Author Information
1. Guizhou Medical University，Guiyang 550000，China
2. Department of Surgery，Guizhou Medical University，Guiyang 550000，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
diabetes mellitus;
erectile dysfunction;
traditional Chinese medicine;
signaling pathway;
research progress
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2025;31(5):339-346
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Erectile dysfunction （ED） is one of the most common manifestations of male reproductive system damage， and it is also a common complication of diabetes mellitus （DM）. ED is closely related to the patient’s quality of life， sexual partner relationship， and family stability. In addition， it is an early warning signal for many physical diseases. As the incidence of DM keeps growing， the incidence of diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction （DMED） increases accordingly. Currently， drug treatment for ED presents limited effects， and the treatment of DMED is more difficult. Therefore， developing effective and safe drugs is a clinical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Recent studies have proved that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） can alleviate oxidative stress， reduce inflammation， and modulate autophagy by regulating multiple signaling pathways， thus ameliorating DMED， showing definite therapeutic effects via multiple pathways， targets， and links. Multiple signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt）， nitric oxide （NO）-cyclic guanosine monophosphate （cGMP）， Ras homolog family member A （RhoA）/Rho， nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （NRF2）， mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， and protein kinase C （PKC） mediate the occurrence and development of DMED， while there is still a lack of conclusive records. By reviewing relevant articles published in recent years， this paper summarizes the role of the above-mentioned signaling pathways in the occurrence and development of DMED and the research progress in TCM treatment of DMED via regulation of related signaling pathways. This review is expected to provide new ideas and references for further clinical diagnosis and treatment， basic research， and drug development.
