How Fluted Pumpkin, Velvet Bean Boost Fertility In Men.

Several studies have pointed to the
growing problem of sperm count decline
worldwide. However, Nigerian researchers
have demonstrated that making fluted
pumpkin and devil bean part of the daily
diet will not only boost sperm count and
sexual performance in men, but protect
the reproductive organs from damage and
improve the functions of the kidney.

THEY are two of a kind. They are climbers
found in many farms and garden across the
country. Fluted pumpkin (Telfairia
occidentalis) is a popular vegetable
commonly called ugu by most Nigerians. But
cowhage or velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens)
is not that popular. It is called werepe in
Yoruba and agbala or agboloko in Ibo. The
velvet bean plant is notorious for the spiky
hairs on the mature bean pods that are very
irritating to the skin.
But recent studies suggest that a
combination of the two herbal extracts
could produce the must awaited novel drug
that can improve sperm count, boost libido
and sexual performance in men, protect the
testicles from environmentally induced
damage, lower blood sugar, act as antidote
to snake bites, among other benefits.
A study published recently in the African
Journal of Biotechnology suggests that
aqueous extract of T. occidentalis could
improve haematological parameters and
sperm quality, and could be a potent
hypoglycemic agent.
The study titled: “Aqueous extract of
Telfairia occidentalis leaves reduces blood
sugar and increases haematological and
reproductive indices in male rats ” was
published by Toyin M. Salman, Luqman A.
Olayaki and Wahab A. Oyeyemi of the
Department of Physiology, College of Health
Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara
State.
The researchers wrote, “the present study
has shown that the aqueous extract of T.
occidentalis caused significant increases in
packed cell volume, haemoglobin
concentration, red blood cell count and
white blood cell count in addition to a
significant decrease in blood glucose.
“The increase in the haematological indices
observed in this study is consistent with the
observations made when rats were fed
with the diet preparation of the air-dried
leaves of T. occidentalis for four weeks. The
present study has also shown for the first
time that new blood cells would have
started appearing in the circulation after the
fifth day of treatment with T. occidentalis
and the increase would become significant
after the seventh day of treatment and
beyond.
“The increases in the haematological indices
observed following treatment with T.
occidentalis extract might not be
unconnected with the chemical composition
of the leaves of T. occidentalis. The chemical
composition had been shown to include
proteins, fat, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin,
nicotinamide, vitamin C and minerals such
as zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium.
“The amino acid profile of T. occidentalis
had also been shown to be very rich and
includes alanine, aspartate, glycine,
glutamine, histidine, lysine, methio-nine,
tryptophan, cystine, leucine, arginine,
serine, threonine, phenylalanine, valine,
tyrosine and isoleucine.
“Some of these constituents are well-
established haemopoietic factors that have
direct influence on the production of blood
in the bone marrow. For instance, iron is a
well-known haemopoietic factor.
“ Moreover, the amino acids derived from T.
occidentalis could also be used for the
synthesis of the globin chains of the
haemoglobin and this could also contribute
to the increase in haemoglobin
concentration. The significant increase
observed in this study is, however,
inconsistent with the insignificant change in
haematological parameters observed when
birds were fed with the dietary preparation
of the sun-dried leaves of the plant.
“The insignificant change observed with
the sun-dried leaves might be due to the
denaturing of the active ingredients
especially proteins in the leaves during
exposure to sunlight. In addition, the
inconsistence may be an indication of a
species variation in the responses to the
effects of the plant.
“The significant reduction in blood glucose
suggests that the vegetable plant also
possesses hypoglycemic property. This is
consistent with the reports that a number
of anti-malarial agents including quinine,
chloroquine and Morinda lucida extract
possess hypoglycemic activities. T.
occidentalis has also been employed in the
treatment of malaria. Hypoglycemic
property therefore appears to be common
to the above-mentioned anti-malarial
agents. ”
According to the study, the significant
increases in the sperm motility, viability and
counts could also be attributed to the
actions of some of its active ingredients,
which have well-documented
spermatogenic activities.
The researchers further explained, “the
administration of T. occidentalis extract
could therefore be construed as a steady
supply of additional nutrients to the treated
rats over the control rats. Carbohydrate-rich
T. occidentalis for instance, could have
increased sperm motility and viability by
increasing glucose metabolism leading to
the production of pyruvate and energy.
Pyruvate is known to be the preferred
substrate essential for the activity and
survival of sperm cells.
Moreover, the amino acid arginine is a
biochemical precursor in the synthesis of
putrescine, spermidine and spermine, which
are essential for sperm motility. Zinc also
promotes growth, sexual maturation and
reproduction. In fact, studies have shown
that serum and semen zinc levels were
lower in infertile males than the fertile
males. Vitamin C had also been reported to
improve sperm motility and fertility in
smokers, respectively.
“Although, serum testosterone was not
estimated in this study, the increase in
sperm counts may be due to an increase in
serum testosterone concentration.
Testosterone is needed for growth and
development of male reproductive organs
and in association with follicular stimulating
hormone, it acts on the seminiferous
tubules to initiate and maintain
spermatogenesis. ”
The researchers noted that the ability of T.
occidentalis to increase sperm motility,
viability and counts, as observed in this
study, is of great interest because these
parameters are determinants of the
fertilising capacity of sperm cells.
They added, “in fact, studies have shown
that agents, which reduce the fertilising
capacity of sperm cells do so by reducing
these parameters. For instance, the
reduction in the fertility of male rats treated
with chloroquine and the extracts of
Morinda lucida and Alstonia boonei had
been attributed to significant reduction in
sperm motility, viability and counts induced
by these agents. Immotile or sluggishly
motile spermatozoa would not penetrate
the cervical mucus and thus could fail to
fertilise the ova. Fewer numbers of viable
sperm cells could also reduce the chances of
fertilisation. The increase in the sperm
parameters induced by T. occidentalis could
therefore increase the fertilising capacity of
spermatozoa. ”
Current evidence suggests that a multi-
faceted therapeutic approach to improving
male fertility involves identifying harmful
environmental and occupational risk
factors, while correcting underlying
nutritional imbalances to encourage optimal
sperm production and function. In this
respect, studies have shown that nutritional
therapies with zinc, vitamin C, vitamin E and
arginine proved beneficial in treating male
infertility.
The researchers concluded, “since T.
occidentalis contains most of these
substances, it could, therefore, be a natural
product that may be very useful in the
treatment and management of infertility
especially that associated with reduction in
sperm performance. This study suggests
that aqueous extract of T. occidentalis could
improve haematological parameters and
sperm quality and it could be a potent
hypoglycemic agent. ”
Further studies aimed at elucidating the
mechanism of hypoglycemic effect of this
vegetable plant and its effects on male
reproductive hormones and fertility are
required. ”
Another study published in the International
Journal of Applied Research in Natural
Products concluded, “the overall results
obtained in this study suggest that Telfairia
occidentalis leave extract (prepared as is
done in Nigerian trado-medicine) possesses
protective effect on the testes at a lower
dose, but is deleterious to the testes at
higher doses. ”
Yet another study published in Caderno de
Pesquisa, série Biologia noted, “this shows
that the extract of Telfairia occidentalis has
a regenerative effect on the destroyed
testicular histology induced by quinine
therapy. ”
Results of a comparative effects of the
leaves of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina)
and Telfairia occidentalis incorporated diets
on the lipid profile of rats showed that at
the five and 15 per cent treatments,
Telfairia occidentalis (TO) significantly
lowered the serum total cholesterol (TC)
level relative to the effect of Vernonia
amygdalina (VA).
The results published in African Journal of
Biochemistry Research also showed that the
effects of VA and TO on triacylglycerol (TG)
and low- density lipoprotein cholesterol
(LDL-C) ‘bad’ cholesterol were similar. For
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)
‘ good’ cholesterol, the TO diet preparation
induced a significantly higher serum HDL-C
level relative to the effect of the VA diet at
the 15 per cent treatment. Overall, the
incorporation of V. amygdalina and T.
occidentalis in diet preparations were anti-
lipidaemic where to showed a greater effect
compared to the VA diet preparation.
Indian researchers have shown that
Mucuna pruriens improves male fertility by
its action on the hypothalamus-pituitary-
gonadal axis. The hypothalamic-pituitary-
gonadal axis is a critical part in the
development and regulation of a number of
the body’s systems, such as the
reproductive and immune systems.
According to the study published in Fertility
and Sterility, decreased sperm count and
motility were seen in infertile subjects. The
researchers wrote: “Serum Testosterone
and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) levels, as well
as, seminal plasma and blood levels of
dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline
were also decreased in all groups of infertile
men. LH is a hormone secreted by the
pituitary gland that helps the egg mature
and develop.
The seminal plasma mediates the chemical
function of the ejaculate. Dopamine is a
neurotransmitter that helps control the
brain ’s reward and pleasure centers. Release
of adrenaline and noradrenaline is triggered
by nervous stimulation in response to
physical or mental stress.
This was accompanied by significantly
increased serum Follicle Stimulating
Hormone (FSH) and Prolactin (PRL) levels in
oligozoospermic subjects. FSH is essential to
fertility and the ability to get pregnant. PRL
is peptide hormone primarily associated
with lactation.
“Treatment with M. pruriens significantly
improved testosterone (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. Treatment with M. pruriens
regulates steroidogenesis (production of
steroids by the adrenal glands) and
improves semen quality in infertile men. ”
The results of a Nigerian study published in
the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research,
showed that the Nigerian M. pruriens seeds
improve the haematological and serum
biochemical parameters determined in a
dose-dependent manner. The results
showed that shade-dried, pulverized seeds
of M. pruriens lowers blood cholesterol,
blood urea and serum creatinine.
“It also reduces bleeding time; increases
platelet count and these were statistically
significant. However, the effect on packed
cell volume (PCV) was not statistically
significant when compared with the control.
Hence, shade-dried seeds of MP seeds are
not poisonous when compared with the
raw seeds.”
The researchers from the Department of
Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, Faculty
of Pharmacy Olabisi Onabanjo University,
Sagamu, Ogun State, concluded,
“thus, MP has a good potential for clinical
applications but a dose-response study is,
therefore, necessary to determine the
dosage individualisation for each of the
clinical applications. It is note worthy that
MP did not produce any noticeable toxicity
in the rats at the doses applied. It could be
pertinent to point out the nutritional value
of the MP in lowering blood cholesterol,
blood urea and serum creatinine and,
therefore, reduce the incidence of
arteriosclerosis ureamia (symptom of
chronic renal failure) and in the assessment
of nephritic functions.”
Serum Creatinine is a chemical molecule that
is present in the liquid portion of the blood.
If kidney function is abnormal, creatinine
levels will increase in the blood.