Overview of the Effects of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract on Oxidative Stress and Male Infertility: A Review

Abstract

According to a recent report by the WHO, 50–80 million people suffer with infertility. Amongst these populations, male counterparts account for 20–50% of infertility cases. The aetiology of infertility in men includes many factors such as psychological issues, lifestyle and environmental factors, hormonal disorders and chromosomal abnormalities. The pathophysiology of these aetiologies may be initiated by a local inflammatory reaction increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which can negatively affect the male reproductive system by altering the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadotropin axis (HPG axis). Alteration of the HPG axis may affect testicular steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, the Leydig cells and Sertoli cells, leading to poor semen quality. The prevalence of male infertility underscores the need for a thorough scientific investigation to identify treatable or reversible factors using plant adjuvants with antioxidative properties. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview of the currently available knowledge on the aetiologies of male reproductive dysfunction, emphasising infertility risk factors, as well as elucidating the possible ways by which readily available alternatives, such as Moringa oleifera leaves, may mitigate male infertility by highlighting its role on the oxidative stress parameters, reproductive hormonal levels, testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, gene expression, weight and morphology of the testis and sperm parameters.

Evaluation of Testicular Function and Structural Changes of Wistar Rats Following Antiretroviral Exposure: Protective Role of Cyperus Esculentus

“…Additionally, the high sensitivity of sperm cells to mitochondrial activity renders them more vulnerable to the damage caused by oxidative stress (Hussain et al, 2023). Thus, disturbance in the cell energy supply may result in immobilization of sperm and axonemal damage, which are required for motility (Mohlala et al, 2023).…”

Effect of ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves on the number of spermatogenic cells and Leydig cells of gentamicin-induced rats

“…Moringa leaf extract scavenged free radicals because it contains flavonoids, vitamins C and E (Hegazi and Elebshany, 2019), which affect the increase in the activity of the hypothalamus release GnRH to stimulate the pituitary gland to release FSH and LH levels (Mohlala et al, 2023). The increase in LH levels affects the number of Leydig cells, followed by higher production of testosterone (Zirkin et al, 2018).…”

Advancements in Genetic Biomarkers and Exogenous Antioxidant Supplementation for Safeguarding Mammalian Cells against Heat-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis

“…Our primary objective was to incorporate the most pertinent and up-to-date scholarly contributions, while also preserving the essential context for a comprehensive understanding. To assess the impact of heat stress on mammalian reproductive cells, we primarily focused on articles published In response to these challenges, numerous researchers have advocated for exogenous supplementation with antioxidants to mitigate the elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by HS and enhance the antioxidant capacity of mammalian reproductive cells [30,31,47,[73][74][75][76]. Consistently, positive outcomes have been observed for supplementation with antioxidants, whether in the form of herbal medicines or feed additives, in improving the efficiency of mammalian reproductive cells such as granulosa cells, Leydig cells, and Sertoli cells by alleviating oxidative stress [77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85].…”

“…In response to these challenges, numerous researchers have advocated for exogenous supplementation with antioxidants to mitigate the elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by HS and enhance the antioxidant capacity of mammalian reproductive cells [ 30 , 31 , 47 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 ]. Consistently, positive outcomes have been observed for supplementation with antioxidants, whether in the form of herbal medicines or feed additives, in improving the efficiency of mammalian reproductive cells such as granulosa cells, Leydig cells, and Sertoli cells by alleviating oxidative stress [ 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 ].…”