Plants in the management of male infertility

Abstract

This review attempts to collate existing data and provide the perspectives for future studies on the effects of plants on the male gonads. For many of these medicinal plants such as Lepidium meyenii, Rupus coreanus, Tribulus terrestres, Panax ginseng, Petasites japonicas, Apium graveolens, Eurycoma longifólia, Pedalium murex, Corchorus depressus, Mucuna pruriens, Astragalus membranaceus, Nigella sativa, Crataegus monogyna, Fagara tessmannii, Phaleria macrocarpa, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Cynomorium songaricum and Morinda officinalis, the mechanism of actions of their active principles and crude extracts has been shown in both laboratory animals, in vitro, and human studies, and includes their antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, spermatogenesis‐inducing, aphrodisiac, smooth muscle relaxing and androgenic properties. Several active chemical leads including glucosinolates, anthocyanins, protodioscin, ginsenosides, sesquiterpenes, phyto‐oestrogens, quassinoids, diosgenin, thymoquinone, proanthocyanidins and bajijiasu isolated from these plants are known to have target effects on the testis, but efforts have been limited in their application at the clinical level. There still appear to be many more extracts of medicinal plants that have not been characterised to determine the phytochemicals unique to them that have target effects on the gonads. Further, collaborative efforts at isolating pro‐drug candidates from medicinal plants for studies at the molecular, cellular and clinical level towards elucidating their mechanisms of action on the testes are therefore warranted in the light of the current male fertility crisis.

Medicinal Use of Testosterone and Related Steroids Revisited

“…Damiana was reported to contain sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside, while Malaysian ginseng has a lanostane derivative, tirucallane (64 and 65, Figure 11). Again, there is very little evidence that the compounds present in extracts of these plants increase endogenous T levels [106][107][108][109].…”

Glycoprotein Isolated from Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) is Capable of Boosting Testosterone Levels in Leydig cells

“…Aphrodisiac plants, either alone or in a mixture taken regularly can arouse sexual desire or libido and sustain average or above-average sexual performance while alternatively treating erectile dysfunction and infertility in men or women. [9][10][11] The measurement of testosterone levels is indicative of the presence of aphrodisiac potentials in men. Testosterone is a prerequisite for normal spermatogenesis.…”

Tribulus and Ashwagandha Diets to Combat Infertility of Cadmium Chloride Injected Male Albino Rats

“…Tribulus terrestres had contained high amounts of chemical composition and nutritional compounds. These constituents are known to have target effects on the testis, and the gonads (Abarikwu et al, 2020). More natural products have antioxidant characteristics and androgenic activities on productive factors and hormones.…”