The effect of the aqueous extract ofCynomorium coccineum on the epididymal sperm pattern of the rat

Abstract

An aqueous extract of Cynomorium coccineum was administered by stomach tube to ten mature male Wistar rats, at a dose of 47 mg/100 kg body weight/day for 14 consecutive days. Ten rats were kept as controls and received normal saline by oral route at the same dosing interval. Sperm was collected from the epididymes after decapitation. The results revealed that the water extract of the Cynomorium coccineum induced significant increase in the sperm count, improved the percentage of live sperm and their motility and decreased the number of abnormal sperm. Testicular histology showed increased spermatogenesis and seminiferous tubules full of sperm in the treated group compared with the controls. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Antifungal activity of extracts fromCynomorium coccineumgrowing wild in Sardinia island (Italy)

“…The value of C. coccineum as a medicinal remedy is, however, recorded in many other cultures, especially as concerns the use of the plant as antihaemorrhoidal, spermatogenesis stimulating agent, aphrodisiac, tonic, antivomitive and hypotensive (Duke et al 2008). Some of these effects have been confirmed in studies on animal models (Abd El-Rahman et al 1999;Al-Qarawi et al 2000;Abdel-Magied et al 2001). The use of the C. coccineum as a food, especially during periods of famine, is also reported (Dharmananda 2014) and may be due to its relatively high content of oils rich in essential fatty acids which helped people to survive when standard foods were insufficient.…”

Cynomorium songaricum induces spermatogenesis with glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) enhancement in rat testes

“…Several studies have examined the effects of CS extracts on mammalian reproductive cells. In addition, a water extract of CS induced a significant increase in sperm count, improved the percentage of live sperm and their motility, and decreased the number of abnormal sperm (Abdel-Rahman et al, 1999), and there was a marked increase in testicular weight in animals treated with the extracts, which also had a direct spermatogenic influence on the seminiferous tubules of immature rats, presumably by exerting a testosterone-like effect (Abdel-Magied et al, 2001).…”

Medicinal herbs in the management of male infertility

“…(Cynomoraceae) is a black leafless parasitic plant without chlorophyll. Aqueous extract of this herb has been shown to induce significant elevation in the sperm count, the percentage of viable sperm and sperm motility, reduced the number of abnormal sperm, increased spermatogenesis [43].…”