Polysaccharides from Wolfberry Prevents Corticosterone-Induced Inhibition of Sexual Behavior and Increases Neurogenesis

Abstract

Lycium barbarum, commonly known as wolfberry, has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of infertility and sexual dysfunction. However, there is still a scarcity of experimental evidence to support the pro-sexual effect of wolfberry. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on male sexual behavior of rats. Here we report that oral feeding of LBP for 21 days significantly improved the male copulatory performance including increase of copulatory efficiency, increase of ejaculation frequency and shortening of ejaculation latency. Furthermore, sexual inhibition caused by chronic corticosterone was prevented by LBP. Simultaneously, corticosterone suppressed neurogenesis in subventricular zone and hippocampus in adult rats, which could be reversed by LBP. The neurogenic effect of LBP was also shown in vitro. Significant correlation was found between neurogenesis and sexual performance, suggesting that the newborn neurons are associated with reproductive successfulness. Blocking neurogenesis in male rats abolished the pro-sexual effect of LBP. Taken together, these results demonstrate the pro-sexual effect of LBP on normal and sexually-inhibited rats, and LBP may modulate sexual behavior by regulating neurogenesis.

Protective effects of <i>Lycium barbarum</i> polysaccharide on male sexual dysfunction and fertility impairments by activating hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis in streptozotocin-induced type-1 diabetic male mice

“…Reports indicated Sildenafil, as a first-line medicine for treatment of erectile dysfunction and sexual dysfunction, increased sperm quantity and quality [29,51]. Our experiment showed similar findings, but the LBP showed a better reversal effect on the fertility impairment than sildenafil which might be caused by more mechanisms of action.…”

“…As expected, an increase in the mean body weights was observed and this increase was statistically significant after administration of 40 mg/kg LBP, reflecting benefit of better blood glucose control. Previous studies showed that the improvement of the reduced testicular weights by the administration of LBP in animals might be attributed to the improvement of lesion of reproductive organs [33,39,40]. Recent studies utilized morphology based technique showed histopathological changes in the testis associated with DM [41].…”

“…In diabetic condition. The dosage used in the present study was based on previous study and depended on our preparatory experiments [29,32].…”

“…One of the Gouqi's main active ingredient is Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), which have shown multiple pharmacological activities such as hypolipidemic, antioxidant, anti-aging, antitumor, and immunomodulation et al [27,28]. A wide array of studies confirmed that sexual functionality, sperm quality as well as the serum endocrine hormone levels were significant improved after administration of LBP in rat in the following reproductive damage models such as corticosterone-induced inhibition of the sexual behavior [29], radiation-induced spermatogenic damage [30] and bisphenol A-induced testis spermatogenic injuries [31]. Based on the above considerations, we hypothesized that LBP might minimize fertility impairment in secondary complications of diabetes.…”

Mitigation of chronic unpredictable stress–induced cognitive deficits in mice by <i>Lycium barbarum</i> L (Solanaceae) polysaccharides

“…LBP has hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects, and it could be used for treating type 2 diabetes [2] and cancer [3]. LBP improves sexual behavior and increases neurogenesis [4], as well as Alzheimer's disease (AD), colitis, fatigue, glaucoma and stroke [5].…”