Plant Products in the Management of Male Infertility
Male infertility is a disorder with an undefined etiology in about half of the cases. It has devastating effects on personal and social life of a couple. In the past few years, the modern medical sciences have prospered a lot; however, in spite of great a
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Sudha Bhagwati and Rajender Singh
“The management of fertility is one of the most important functions of adulthood” —Germaine Greer.
Abstract
Male infertility is a disorder with an undefined etiology in about half of the cases. It has devastating effects on personal and social life of a couple. In the past few years, the modern medical sciences have prospered a lot; however, in spite of great advancements in synthetic products, the herbal products are still a preferred choice in terms of safety, affordability, and higher efficacy. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as IUI, IVF, and ICSI promise to treat a few but a long- lasting curative effect, easy availability, natural way of healing, and fewer side effects make herbal plant products an attractive alternate for a larger section of society. As recommended by the Ayurvedic, Unani, and Siddha medicinal systems, plant products are gaining a substantial importance for infertility management. In this chapter, we have focused on some well-known selected plants with respect to the scientific evidence of their effects on male fertility and their availability in the Indian market. Keywords
Male infertility treatment • Plants in male infertility • Plant extracts • Mucuna pruriens • Withania somnifera • Asparagus racemosus • Tribulus terrestris
S. Bhagwati • R. Singh (*) Male Reproductive Biology Laboratory, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India e-mail: [email protected] © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017 R. Singh, K. Singh (eds.), Male Infertility: Understanding, Causes and Treatment, DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-4017-7_21
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S. Bhagwati and R. Singh
Key Points • According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, due to poverty and lack of access to modern medicine, about 65–80% of the world’s population living in the developing countries depends essentially on plants for primary health care. • In Ayurveda “Vajikarana Rasayana” has been suggested as an effective treatment for male sexual debilities and infertility. • Plant products have aphrodisiac, adaptogenic, and antioxidant properties and offer holistic benefits to overcome male infertility. • Medicinal plant products contain steroidal saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids as active components, which may account for their pro-fertility effects. • Plant products such as Asparagus racemosus, Chlorophytum borivilianum, Curculigo orchioides, Mucuna pruriens, Tribulus terrestris, Withania somnifera, etc., improve the level of testosterone and increase libido.
21.1 Introduction Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to achieve pregnancy after 1 year or more of regular and unprotected intercourse. Around the world, 1/6 couples trying to conceive have difficulties. Male reproductive capability is compromised in about 50% of the infertile couples. It is certain that stressful lifestyle has increased the number of cases suffering from sexual dysfunction and infertility. Oligozoospermia, sexual, and ejaculatory dysfunctions are also importan
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