Moringa oleifera extract enhances sexual performance in stressed rats

Abstract

Aphrodisiacs are required to improve male sexual function under stressful conditions. Due to the effects of oxidative stress and dopamine on male sexual function, we hypothesized that Moringa oleifera leaves might improve male sexual dysfunction induced by stress. Therefore, the effects on various factors playing important roles in male sexual behavior, such as antioxidant effects, the suppression of monoamine and phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) activities, serum testosterone and corticosterone levels, and histomorphological changes in the testes, of a hydroethanolic extract of M. oleifera leaves were investigated. Various doses of extract including 10, 50, and 250 mg/kg body weight (BW) were given orally to male Wistar rats before exposure to 12 h-immobilization stress for 7 d. The results demonstrated that the extract showed both antioxidant and monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) suppression activities. At 7 d of treatment, the low dose of extract improved sexual performance in stress-exposed rats by decreasing intromission latency and increasing intromission frequency. It also suppressed PDE-5 activity, decreased serum corticosterone level, but increased serum testosterone, numbers of interstitial cells of Leydig and spermatozoa. The increased numbers of interstitial cells of Leydig and spermatozoa might have been due to the antioxidant effect of the extract. The increased sexual performance during the intromission phase might have been due to the suppression of MAO-B and PDE-5 activities and increased testosterone. Therefore, M. oleifera is a potential aphrodisiac, but further research concerning the precise underlying mechanisms is still needed.

Improving Libido and Sperm Quality of Bali Bulls by Supplementation of Moringa oleifera Leaves

“…The sperm concentration found in this study was similar to that reported in the same breed of bulls by Susilawati (2011) andSetchell (2014). The failure of Moringa oleifera to increase the sperm concentration reported in this study was in contrary to that reported in mice by Priyadarshani & Varma (2014) and in rats by Prabsattroo et al (2015). They found that in hyperglycaemic mice and stressed rats, the supplementation of Moringa leaves significantly increased sperm concentration.…”

“…The higher plasma concentrations of testosterone during the Moringa leaves supplementation was in accordance with the study in rats by Prabsattroo et al (2015) and Dafaalla et al (2016). They reported that Moringa leaves supplementation significantly increased serum testosterone in the rat.…”

“…They reported that Moringa leaves supplementation significantly increased serum testosterone in the rat. The treatment of Moringa leaves could also increase Leydig cells (Prabsattroo et al, 2015) and the levels of FSH and LH (Dafaalla et al, 2016). The testosterone synthesis performed by Leydig cells in the testes depends on the adequacy of Zn in the diet (Roy et al, 2013).…”

Safety Profile and Effect on Libido of a Combined Bryophyllum pinnatum, Moringa oleifera and Vitamin C Phytotherapeutic Agent

“…The high prevalence of male sexual dysfunction, estimated to affect between 20 to 30% of men, is a source of distress and can lead to reduced quality of life. 8 Animal studies have shown that Moringa oleifera improves sexual performance and drive with postulated mechanisms that partly depend on its antioxidant properties. 8,13,18 The plant is thought to decrease oxidative stress affecting the Leydig cells of the testes, thus allowing more testosterone -which increases libido -to be produced.…”

“…Additionally, other studies have indicated that Moringa oleifera may act as an antibiotic, anti-mutagenic, anti-spasmodic and male sexual enhancer. 2,[7][8] Bryophyllum pinnatum, also known as leaf of life, life plant, and the miracle plant is a perennial herb native to Madagascar 9 but now widely cultivated in tropical areas throughout the world.…”