Moringa oleifera (MO) is an excellent source of dietary antioxidant. MO is used traditionally to enhance libido and as an aphrodisiac in the treatment of sexual dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the direct effect of aqueous leaf extract of MO on Leydig cell in vitro. Specifically, the effect of MO on viability, testosterone production, antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation on TM3 cells were evaluated. TM3 cells seeded for 24 hr were exposed to aqueous leaf extract of MO (0, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 µg/ml) for 24 hr, in the absence or presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 6 mIU/200 µl). Cell viability remained unchanged while testosterone production significantly increased at 500 and 1,000 µg/ml of the extract under stimulatory conditions by 34 and 45% respectively. Glutathione level substantially increased at 250 µg/ml, while lipid peroxidation, catalase and superoxide dismutase activity, and total antioxidant capacity remained unchanged. Our results demonstrate the androgenic effect of MO especially at high concentrations in TM3 cells. The androgenic effect may be attributed to its antioxidant enzyme activities.

Background: Idiopathic causes of infertility is associated with oxidative stress. Antioxidants are known to scavenge the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Green tea (Camellia sinensis) contains polyphenols that enhance its antioxidant potential.Aim: This study focused on the impact of aqueous green tea extract on normozoospermic human spermatozoa.Setting: Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape (UWC), South Africa.Methods: Semen samples obtained using masturbation method following three to five days of sexual abstinence from consenting men (n = 59) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) were liquefied and analysed. Normozoospermic samples were selected according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 5th guideline. Thereafter, semen samples (7.5 × 106 /mL) were washed in human tubular fluid (HTF; 10 min at 300 ×g) and exposed to aqueous extracts of green tea (0 μg/mL, 0.4 μg/mL, 4 μg/mL, 40 μg/mL, 405 μg/mL) for 1 h with various sperm parameters analyzed. Human tubular fluid supplemented with bovine serum albumin (HTF-BSA; 10%) served as control.Results: Sperm motility, reactive oxygen species production, across some reaction and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation decreased significantly, particularly at the highest concentration (405 μg/mL; p 0.001). A substantial increase in the percentage of viable spermatozoa and those with intact mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were observed (p 0.001).Conclusion: Aqueous extract of green tea prolonged sperm viability and MMP while reducing sperm intracellular ROS production, capacitation and across some reaction and DNA fragmentation, and may be attributed to its antioxidant potential. However, a high concentration of the extract appears to be detrimental to the functioning of human spermatozoa.

Black tea, produced by drying and crushing of Camellia sinensis leaves, thereby enhancing oxidation. It contains phytochemicals with antioxidant capacity and might improve male reproductive function by scavenging free radicals. This study aims to investigate the effects of black tea on human sperm in vitro. Semen samples were collected with informed consent after 3‐5 days of abstinence from 59 donors at the University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa. After liquefaction, baseline semen analysis was conducted to determine the sperm quality according to WHO (2010) criteria and classified as normozoospermic (n=40) and non‐normozoospermic (n=19). Semen was washed with human tubular fluid medium supplemented with 1% bovine serum albumin (HTF‐BSA; 1:5), centrifuged (300 xg; 10 min) and exposed to aqueous extract of black tea (0, 0.4, 4, 40 and 405 μg/ml) for 1h at 37ºC. Thereafter, sperm parameters such as motility, vitality, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, capacitation and acrosome reaction were analyzed. Sperm vitality (p<0.01), and MMP (p<0.01) was higher in the black tea treated groups compared to the control, while a reduction in ROS production (p<0.01) and acrosome reaction (p<0.01) was observed in both groups. However, no effect was observed on sperm motility (p>0.05) at any concentration used. Our study shows for the first time the beneficial effect of black tea on human sperm function in vitro, which may be attributed to its antioxidant capacity.