Mucuna pruriens improves male fertility by its action on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the mechanism of action of Mucuna pruriens in the treatment of male infertility.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Departments of Biochemistry, Urology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, C.S.M. Medical University, Lucknow, India.


METHODS
Seventy-five normal healthy fertile men (controls) and 75 men undergoing infertility screening.


METHODS
High-performance liquid chromatography assay for quantitation of dopa, adrenaline, and noradrenaline in seminal plasma and blood. Estimation by RIA of hormonal parameters in blood plasma, namely T, LH, FSH, and PRL.


METHODS
Before and after treatment, serum T, LH, FSH, PRL, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline in seminal and blood plasma were measured.


RESULTS
Decreased sperm count and motility were seen in infertile subjects. Serum T and LH levels, as well as seminal plasma and blood levels of dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline were also decreased in all groups of infertile men. This was accompanied by significantly increased serum FSH and PRL levels in oligozoospermic subjects. Treatment with M. pruriens significantly improved T, LH, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline levels in infertile men and reduced levels of FSH and PRL. Sperm count and motility were significantly recovered in infertile men after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with M. pruriens regulates steroidogenesis and improves semen quality in infertile men.
Shukla
Kamla Kant
KK
Department of Biochemistry, C.S.M. Medical University, Lucknow, India.
Mahdi
Abbas Ali
AA
Ahmad
Mohammad Kaleem
MK
Shankhwar
Satya Narain
SN
Rajender
Singh
S
Jaiswar
Shyam Pyari
SP
D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D031299:Mucuna; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000187:drug effects*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D028321:Plant Preparations; D013739:Testosterone; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine