Effect of Mucuna pruriens (Linn.) on sexual behavior and sperm parameters in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rat.
BACKGROUND
Sexual dysfunction is one of the major secondary complications in the diabetic. Mucuna pruriens, a leguminous plant identified for its antidiabetic, aphrodisiac, and improving fertility properties, has been the choice of Indian traditional medicine.


OBJECTIVE
Objective of the present study was to analyze the efficacy of M. pruriens on male sexual behavior and sperm parameters in long-term hyperglycemic male rats.


METHODS
Male albino rats were divided as group I control, group II diabetes induced (streptozotocin [STZ] 60 mg/kg of body weight (b.w.) in 0.1 M citrate buffer), group III diabetic rats administered with 200 mg/kg b.w. of ethanolic extract of M. pruriens seed, group IV diabetic rats administered with 5 mg/kg b.w. of sildenafil citrate (SC), group V administered with 200 mg/kg b.w. of extract, and group VI administered with 5 mg/kg b.w. of SC. M. pruriens and SC were administered in single oral dosage per day for a period of 60 days. The animals were subjected to mating behavior analyses, libido, test of potency, and epididymal sperms were analyzed.


METHODS
The mating behavior, libido, test of potency, along with epididymal sperms were studied.


RESULTS
The study showed significant reduction in sexual behavior and sperm parameters in group II. Daily sperm production (DSP) and levels of follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone were significantly reduced in group II, whereas the animals with diabetes administered with seed extract of M. pruriens (group III) showed significant improvement in sexual behavior, libido and potency, sperm parameters, DSP, and hormonal levels when compared to group II.


CONCLUSIONS
The present work reveals the potential efficacy of ethanolic seed extract of M. pruriens to improve male sexual behavior with androgenic and antidiabetic effects in the STZ-induced diabetic male rats. This study supports the usage of M. pruriens in the Indian system of medicine as sexual invigorator in diabetic condition and encourages performing similar study in men.
Suresh
Sekar
S
University of Madras-Department of Anatomy, Dr. Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chennai, India.
Prakash
Seppan
S
D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; D005298:Fertility; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D031299:Mucuna; D009929:Organ Size; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D013450:Sulfones / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate