[PDE5 inhibitors as a medicinal guide drug in the treatment of erectile dysfunction]

Medicinal guide theory is a unique theory of Chinese medicine, which bears some similarities to the modern targeted drug delivery system. Modern pharmacological studies have revealed some scientific connotations of the essence of medicinal guide, which may be related to the changes of drug distribution and metabolism it induces. In modern medicine, phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are widely used in the treatment of impotence or ED, with the main underlying mechanisms of increasing arterial blood supply and improving penile vascular endothelial function. With the gradual integration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with modern medicine, PDE5 inhibitors are also commonly used for the treatment of ED in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, based on the mainstream view of promoting blood circulation and invigorating the kidney. However, PDE5 inhibitors also have some remarkable characteristics and advantages of medicinal guide drugs, which can be widely incorporated into the treatment system of ED under the guidance of TCM theories and play a huge role in enhancing and expanding therapeutic efficacy.