Scientists explain why herbs treat male infertility

INFERTILITY affects approximately 15 per cent of all couples, trying to conceive.
Male infertility is a contributing factor in roughly half of these
cases and no identifiable cause can be
found in over 25 per cent of infertile males.
Several things can cause fertility problems
in men and they include low sperm motility,
low sperm count, abnormal sperm and
sperm allergies. Sometimes the causes of
infertility are infections (particularly
chlamydia, gonorrhoea and tuberculosis).
In a review on nfections and male infertility,
experts stated that bacteria could affect
semen quality and cause changes, which
could impair fertility function. Infections
could cause inflammation of the accessory
gland or total damage to the gonads.
There are many natural herbal and
nutritional aphrodisiacs that enhance sexual
drive and pleasure in both men and women,
along with increase libido, improve sexual
performance, blood flow, boost fertility,
increase force and intensity of ejaculation.
Herbal medicines play a vital role in the
treatment of sexually transmitted infections
(STIs), especially in the remote areas of
Africa where clinics and hospitals are
sparsely located. Herbs that contain
chemical substances that destroy germs of
bacterial origin are therefore relevant in the
management of male infertility.
Cissus populnea and Sesamum radiatum
are two tropical medicinal plants used to
correct male infertility factor in South-
Western part of Nigeria.
Experts’ evaluation of these herbs found
they have antimicrobial activity, which may
cure some sexually transmitted infections
that could be responsible for male infertility.
An investigation on these herbs used in
folkloric medicine to treat male infertility the
2009 edition of Research Journal of
Medicinal Plant showed that the essential oil
from the stem powder of C. populnea and
the leaves of S. radiatum inhibit the growth
of several germs of bacteria origin and as
such may correct male infertility factor
arising from bacterial infection.
Cissus populnea (Ogbolo or Ajara (Yoruba),
Daafaaraa (Hausa) is used extensively in
medicinal preparations in West Africa.
In Benin Republic, it is used as a diuretic.
Extracts from the root of the plant have
been used for the management of skin
diseases, boils, infected wounds and for
treating urinary tract infections, thus
suggesting antibacterial activity. Cissus
populnea of family Vitaceae,
All parts of Cissus populnea are
mucilaginous yielding a visci sap, that form
freshly cut stems being sometimes drunk,
and to adulterate honey.
The root is used in parts of Nigeria as an
arrow-poison antidote; it is powdered and
added to Daddawar batso (Hausa) the
residue of seeds of Hibiscus sabdariffa
Malvaceae, after extraction of the seed-oil,
then made up as a plaster for application
for the wound.
Yoruba use the root to cure sore breasts of
women at childbirth, and a male coital
adjunct.
In Senegal, pulped-up roots are applied to
leg-ulcers, and preparations are taken as
anthelmintics.
The decoction of the leaves of Sesamum
radiatum commonly referred to as
benniseed is used for the treatment of
catarrh, eye pains, bruises and erupted
skins. The decoction of combined roots and
leaves has been reported to exhibit anti-
viral and anti-fungal activity.
The study entitled “Assessment of
Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil
from the Stem Powder of Cissus populnea
and the Leaves of Sesamum radiatum,
Herbal Medications for Male Infertility
Factor” was carried out by Osibote, E.A.S., M.
Ogunlesi, W. Okiei, T. Asekun and O.B.
Familoni, all from the Department of
Chemistry, University of Lagos.
The researchers wrote, “our study on
eleven bacterial samples and the bioactivity
of the essential oils from the two plants on
several of these microorganisms show that
these essential oils are broad-spectrum
antibacterial agents which may be useful in
inhibiting the growth of some
microorganisms which can be causative
agents of infertility in male subjects.”
Cissus populnea is also called food gum and
Okoho (Idoma) or Ager (Tiv) in some local
dialects spoken in Nigeria. There are wide
ranges of possible application of C.
populnea. The gum is used for soup and as
soup thickener. Previous studies on extracts
obtained from C. populnea have been
reported to be useful for treating skin
diseases, boils and urinary tract infections.
Its extracts have been credited as an anti-
trypanosomal plant and a source of gum
powder and as a component of a herbal
anti-sickling Nigerian formula.
Mucuna pruriens which is also used as a
male fertility enhancer is used as a
phytomedicine for genito-urinary diseases.
Mucuna pruriens (Werepe in Yoruba and
Agbala in Igbo) has been found to contain
L-dopa, an important brain chemical
involved in mood, sexuality, and movement.
It is commonly called cowitch, cowhage,
velvet bean, cow-itch or buffalo bean.
In 2002, a United States patent was filed on
the use of Mucuna pruriens to stimulate the
release of growth hormone in humans. The
high levels of L-dopa in the mucuna seed
are reportedly converted to dopamine,
which stimulates the release of growth
hormone by the pituitary gland. L-dopa and
dopamine are also reported to be effective
inhibitors of prolactin. Prolactin is a
hormone released by the pituitary gland;
increased levels are considered responsible
for between 70 and 80 per cent of erection
failure in males.
In one study, oral intake of the seeds in 56
human males was able to improve erection,
duration of coitus, and post-coital
satisfaction after only four weeks of
treatment.
The seed also has fertility promoting and
spermatogenic effects (induces formation
and development of spermatozoa) in
human males, being able to improve sperm
count and motility.
But that is not all. Withania somnifera are
among the southern African plants
commonly used for the treatment of (STIs).
Scientists reporting on the antimicrobial
activities of water and methanol extract of
Withania somnifera and Aloe ferox
substantiated the claims of herbalists that
extracts of Withania somnifera was an
effective treatment for gonorrhea and
thrush.
According to the study they published in
2008 edition of African Journal of
Biotechnology, the extracts of Withania
somnifera (winter cherry or Indian
ginseng) and Aloe ferox, a variant of Aloe
vera, inhibited the growth of Neisseria
gonorrhoea, the germ that causes
gonorrhoea as well as Candida albicans that
causes candidiasis.
The researchers in this study entitled
“Extracts from Aloe ferox and Withania
somnifera inhibit Candida albicans and
Neisseria gonorrhea” said “the ability of
water extract from this plant to inhibit the
growth of N. gonorrhoea may be the
reason for its use by the herbalists for the
treatment of gonorrhoea.”
Extracts from both species together with
pure aloin from A. ferox, were evaluated for
activity against six strains of N. gonorrhoea
and nine strains of C. albicans. The extracts
showed activity against N.gonorrhoea at
concentrations of ranging from 0.5
(methanol extracts from both) to 10 (water
extract of W. somnifera only) mg/ml while
pure aloin inhibited the growth of both
microorganisms. Only the methanol extract
of W. somnifera was effective against C.
albicans at a concentration of 20 mg/ml.