title: Effects of plants and plant products on the testis.
abstract: For centuries, plants and plant-based products have been used as a valuable and safe natural source of medicines for treating various ailments. The therapeutic potential of most of these plants could be ascribed to their anticancer, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antispasmodic, analgesic and various other pharmacological properties. However, several commonly used plants have been reported to adversely affect male reproductive functions in wildlife and humans. The effects observed with most of the plant and plant-based products have been attributed to the antispermatogenic and/or antisteroidogenic properties of one or more active ingredients. This review discusses the detrimental effects of some of the commonly used plants on various target cells in the testis. A deeper insight into the molecular mechanisms of action of these natural compounds could pave the way for developing therapeutic strategies against their toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, India.
authors.forename: Shereen Cynthia
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: D'Cruz
authors.forename: Selvaraju
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vaithinathan
authors.forename: Rajamanickam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jubendradass
authors.forename: Premendu Prakash
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Mathur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031601:Azadirachta / Q000633:toxicity; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006072:Gossypol / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010944:Plants; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects*; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000633:toxicity; D014750:Vincristine / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014750:Vincristine; D014747:Vinblastine; D006072:Gossypol