Application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of infertility

Xu, Xian; Yin, Hang; Tang, Daiyi; Zhang, Li; Gosden, Roger G.

doi:10.1080/1464770312331369433

Cited by 34 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The multiple activities of plant products is crucial having in mind the interconnection amongst various clinical signs of male sexual dysfunctions. In human studies, plants are used generally in the form of formulations, and the gathering of plants to treat male disorders have shown interesting effects on idiopathic infertility [40,66,[69][70][71].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Medicinal plants as potential male anti-infertility agents: a review

Nantia

Moundipa

Monsees

et al. 2009

Basic Clin. Androl.

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For millions of couples, the inability to have a child is a personal tragedy and a large proportion of childless people are confronted with social stigmatization (blame) and personal frustration. Formerly assigned to women, infertility of a couple is nowadays equitably distributed between the two sexes. Among the methods used to treat male infertility problems, medicinal plants have been used empirically as extracts, decoctions, fractions or semi-purified compounds. These herbal products are used in the treatment of a dysfunctioning of the libido, sexual asthenia, erection, and sperm disorders. Pharmacological activities of many of these plants have been shown in vitro using cells, in vivo (on laboratory animals) and human studies. For instance, extracts of Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius and Lepidium meyenii have shown positive effects on sexual desire; while extracts of Astragalus membranaceus, Asparagus racemous, Withania somnifera, Andrographis paniculata and Acanthopanax senticosus improved sperm parameters. Plants provide a treatment option that is affordable and available for infertile couples, and phytotherapy is an essential form of treatment in our health system. However, herbal products are still anarchically used in many regions and countries, and a great proportion of medicinal plants used traditionally to solve male reproductive disorders have not yet been scientifically evaluated. Therefore in this review, we have summarized most of the data dealing with the effects of plant extracts on mammalian reproductive functions. Keywords Male infertility · Medicinal plants · Libido · Sexual asthenia · Erection · SpermRésumé Pour des millions de couples à travers le monde, l'incapacité d'avoir un enfant est vécue comme une tragédie personnelle. Une large proportion d'entre eux est confrontée à des stigmatisations sociales dont les conséquences sont multiples. Jadis attribuées à la femme, les causes de l'infertilité d'un couple sont pratiquement équitablement partagées par des facteurs liés aux deux sexes. Parmi les différentes méthodes de traitement de l'infertilité masculine figurent les plantes médicinales qui sont utilisées parfois empiriquement sous forme d'extraits, de fractions ou de composés partiellement purifiés dans le traitement des difficultés de libido, d'asthénie sexuelle, d'érection et d'anomalies des paramètres spermatiques. Ces différents aspects d'anomalies sont évoqués dans cette revue en relation avec les extraits de plantes utilisés pour les normaliser. Les propriétés de plusieurs de ces plantes ont été démontrées au niveau cellulaire, in vivo sur des animaux de laboratoire et chez l'homme. Par exemple, les extraits de Panax ginseng, de Panax quinquefolius et de Lepidium meyenii ont présenté un effet bénéfique sur la libido, tandis que ceux d'Astragalus membranaceus, d'Asparagus racemous, de Withania somnifera, d'Andrographis paniculata et d'Acanthopanax senticosus améliorent qualitativement et quantitativement les paramètres spermatiques. Les plantes fournissent ainsi un potentiel de...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Serum concentrations of FSH, LH and testosterone were normalized by treatment, and 78% of the 116 spouses conceived [40].…”

Section: Plants With Hormone Stimulatory Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Medicinal plants as potential male anti-infertility agents: a review

Nantia

Moundipa

Monsees

et al. 2009

Basic Clin. Androl.

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“…Low count, 201 other sperm parameters may also be affected Damp-Heat in Lower Jiao 15,194,200,201,205,207,209 Sexually transmitted diseases, 194 immunological subfertility, 15 infections, 207 inflammation, low sperm count, high rate of dead sperm, incomplete liquefaction of sperm, 201 varicocele, cryptorchidism 200 Phlegm 194,201 or Damp 194,200,208 Postinfection, low sperm count, poor morphology and motility, absence of sperm in the ejaculate 201 Blood Stasis 194,201 Varicocele, cryptorchidism, 200 postsurgery, low sperm count, 201,207 poor motility 201 Cold 194,201,208 Any semen parameters may be affected…”

Section: Importance Of Treating Menmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…13 Damp-Heat may be implicated in patients whose tubal blockage is caused by infection(s). 13,15 Table 8.1 lists acupuncture points that can be used in the treatment of mild tubal factor infertility. Chapter 5 describes TCM syndromes in greater detail.…”

Section: Acupuncture Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification and management of conditions detrimental to IVF outcome

Szmelskyj

2015

Acupuncture for IVF and Assisted Reproduction

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“…Many of these studies nevertheless are not easily accessible to a Western audience as the majority are written in Chinese or Japanese. To date, published work on the treatment of reproductive problems by Chinese herbal medicine mostly pertains to female infertility with fewer studies investigating the use of Chinese herbal medicine to improve sperm quality/quantity [Xu et al 2003]. To the best of our knowledge, none have addressed the issue of whether there are relevant biochemical activities in the herbs commonly used for the treatment of male factor infertility.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plants Used in Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Male Infertility Possess Antioxidant and Anti-Oestrogenic Activity

Tempest¹,

Homa²,

Routledge³

et al. 2008

Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine

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In this study Chinese herbs commonly used in the treatment of male infertility were investigated for relevant biochemical activity. Male factor infertility predominantly arises via barriers to, or defects in, spermatogenesis. The process of spermatogenesis is under strict endocrine control; in addition oxidative stress has been implicated in male infertility with significant levels of reactive oxygen species detected in 25% of infertile males. A total of 37 individual herbs and seven herb decoctions used in the treatment of male factor infertility were therefore tested for endocrine activity using a recombinant yeast based assay and antioxidant activity using the FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant potential) assay. Individual herbs tested did not show androgenic properties, 20 showed strong and 10 weak anti-oestrogenic activity (per g of dried herb tamoxifen equivalents ranged from 1.18-1280.66 mg and 0.06-0.98 mg, respectively). Oestrogenic responses were elicited for two herbs (85.30-550 mg oestradiol equivalents/g dried herb), with seven and three herbs exhibiting a strong or weak anti-androgenic response (per g of dried herb DHT equivalents ranged from 1.54-66.78 mg and 0.17-0.32 mg), respectively. Of these 37 herbs, strong (15 herbs), intermediate (7 herbs) and weak/no (15 herbs) antioxidant activity was detected (ranging from 0.912-1.26; 0.6-0.88 and 0-0.468 mg ascorbate equivalent/mg dried herb, respectively). The seven decoctions (previously used to treat patients) tested elicited strong (5 herbs) and weak (2 herbs) anti-oestrogenic responses (per g of dried herb tamoxifen equivalents ranged from 1.14-13.23 mg and 0.22-0.26 mg, respectively), but not oestrogenic, androgenic nor anti-androgenic, consistent with their individual composition. With regard to antioxidant activity the following responses were recorded: three strong, three intermediate and one weak (ranging from 1.02-1.2; 0.72-0.76 and 0.44 mg ascorbate equivalent/mg dried herb, respectively). The prospects for introducing Chinese herbal treatments into the Western-based medicine are discussed.

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Application of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of infertility

Cited by 34 publications

References 12 publications

Medicinal plants as potential male anti-infertility agents: a review

Medicinal plants as potential male anti-infertility agents: a review

Identification and management of conditions detrimental to IVF outcome

Plants Used in Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Male Infertility Possess Antioxidant and Anti-Oestrogenic Activity

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