Effect of Curculigo orchioides on hyperglycemia-induced oligospermia and sexual dysfunction in male rats

Abstract

Sustained hyperglycemia is considered as a major cause of sexual and erectile dysfunction in human population. Curculigo orchioides (CO) is considered as a sexual tonic in Ayurvedic system of medicine with potent antioxidant and adaptogenic properties. The aqueous extract of the herb was evaluated for its effectiveness against streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic stress and subsequent sexual dysfunction due to hyperglycemia in male rats. Six groups with eight male rats in each group were used for this study and the study was carried out for 28 days. The body and organ weights of the animals were recorded. Behavioral analysis of rats was undertaken to observe the effect on mount, ejaculation and intromission (latencies and frequencies) and hesitation time. Blood glucose and serum testosterone levels were determined 28 days past treatment with CO at 100 and 200 mg kg À1 doses. Glibenclamide and sildenafil citrate were used as positive controls. This deleterious effect of sustained hyperglycemia and associated stress was prominently ameliorated in animals treated with aqueous extract of CO. CO treatment was helpful in ameliorating the damage caused by sustained hyperglycemia evidenced in the principle parameters viz. male sexual behavior, sperm count, penile erection index and seminal fructose content Antioxidant and anabolic activities of the extract under investigation could be a major attribute in preserving the sexual functions in hyperglycemic male rats. The study validates the use of CO in traditional medicine for curing diabetes-induced sexual dysfunction and compromised sexual potency.

Diabetes mellitus-induced male reproductive impairment: The role of natural products: A review

“…WankeuNya et al (2014) have reported significant decreases in mount, intromission and ejaculatory latencies after 4 weeks of treatment of T1 diabetic rats with root bark extract of Dracaena arborea. Curculigo orchioides extract significantly decreases mount, intromission and ejaculatory latencies and frequencies in T1 diabetes, (Thakur et al, 2012). Similarly, rutin significantly reduces mount, intromission and ejaculatory latencies, and increases their frequencies (Al-Roujeaie et al, 2016).…”

“…Vignon et al (1990) have previous reported a significant increase in sperm concentration in TIDM patients, while Garcia-Diez (1991) has reported a significant decrease in sperm count, motility and percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology. However, Agbaje et al (2007) have found an insignificant increase in sperm concentration and total sperm output with an insignificant decrease in sperm motility, and normal sperm morphology.…”

Protective effect of Curculigo orchioides in streptozotocin and nicotinamide-induced diabetic neuropathic pain in Wistar rats

“…Hyperglycemia elicits plentiful biochemical pathways, viz. activation of the polyol pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) with subsequent activation of AGEs, and inducible nitric oxide receptor (Kishore et al, 2018;Oates, 2002;Singh et al, 2015;Smith, 2012;Toth et al, 2008). Excessive stimulation of the polyol pathway is deleterious, primarily by increasing the yield of cofactors such as reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which leads to a reduced level of glutathione as well as increased AGEs formation, activation of protein kinase-C (PKC), and diacylglycerol pathway (Adisakwattana et al, 2012;Singh et al, 2014).…”

Erectogenic and Aphrodisiac Property ofMoringa oleifera: Involvement of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Enzyme

“…Many Indian medicinal plants have been used to increase sexual function in men, but their mechanisms of action are not clearly known. Studies conducted within last decade using animal models, tried to elucidate the mechanisms of actions of few aphrodisiac plants (Sharma et al , ; Thakur et al , ; Sharma et al , ; Sharma et al , ; Chauhan et al , ; Chauhan et al , ; Goswami et al , ; Goswami et al , ). Apart from their effect on sEH, plant extracts are also reported to increase sexual function by increasing level of testosterone or by inhibiting enzymes like arginase, rho‐kinase, PDE5, and sEH (Andersson, ; Goswami et al , ; Goswami et al , ; Yousif and Benter, ).…”