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Plant antecedents of, and analogy to Viagra

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Abstract

Enshrouded by nebulous mists of time like a heroine in a Wagnerian opera or hidden amongst the fumes of well-blended Scotch whisky, lies the botanical origin of mode of action of NO-mediated medication against impotence. Commonly promulgated but chronologically incorrect, is the often made claim that development of Viagra is an offshoot of basic biochemical research on cyclic nucleotides, especially of cAMP (Fig. 5.1) in vertebrate cells which reached its acme by award of the Nobel Prize to Earl Sutherland four decades ago (8).

Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth …

Genesis 1:28

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References

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Leshem, Y.Y. (2000). Plant antecedents of, and analogy to Viagra. In: Nitric Oxide in Plants. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4239-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4239-7_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5840-7

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