Synergistic effect of the hydroalcoholic extract from Lepidium meyenii (Brassicaceae) and Fagara tessmannii (Rutaceae) on male sexual organs and hormone level in rats

Abstract

Background:Lepidium meyenii is a plant, which has been used in folk medicine to treat infertility and to increase sexual desire. However, few reports have investigated the administration of this plant with other plants having the same properties.Objective:The present investigation was designed to evaluate whether the combination of Lepidium meyenii and Fagara tessmannii can improve spermatogenesis and testosterone level in rats.Materials and Method:Twenty male rats were treated daily for 2 weeks with the hydroalcoholic extract of Fagara tessmannii and Lepidium meyenii (Fag + MN) as follow: (vehicle), (0.01 g + 0.5 mg), (0.1 g + 5 mg) and (1 g+ 50 mg)/kg BW.Results:At doses Fag 0.01 g/MN 0.5 mg and Fag 0.1 g/MN 5 mg, the weight of seminal vesicle, prostate, and testis significantly decreased (P < 0.05) while at dose Fag 1 g/MN 50 mg, the weight of epididymis and testis significantly increased (P < 0.05) when compared to the control. We noticed a significant increase of the number of spermatids/test (P < 0.05), epididymis sperm count (P < 0.05), and DSP/test of the rats at dose Fag 1 g/MN 50 mg while at dose Fag 0.01 g/MN 0.5 mg and Fag 0.1 g/MN 5 mg, sperm count was reduced in male organs, particularly in vas deferens (P < 0.05) and epididymis (P < 0.001). The serum testosterone concentration significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at lowest dose Fag 0.01 g/MN 0.5 mg. However, at highest dose Fag 1 g/MN 50 mg, the serum testosterone concentration increased significantly (P < 0.05). The length of stage VII-VIII and IX-I of the seminiferous tubule significantly (P < 0.05) increased while the length of stage II-VI significantly (P < 0.05) decreased.Conclusion:The results indicated that the combination of Lepidium meyenii (Black Maca) with Fagara tessmannii can improve male reproductive organs activities.

Plants in the management of male infertility

“…The higher testosterone level that was associated with the high dose of F. tessmannii was responsible for normalising the sperm transit time (Lembe et al, ). It is believed that the combination of L. meyenii (black maca) with F. tessmannii improves gonadal activities of rats only at higher doses of F. tessmannii irrespective of whether F. tessmannii was administered alone (Lembe et al, ) or in combination with L. meyenii (Lembe et al, ). This information appears to contradict the traditional belief that F. tessmannii is used for infertility treatment (Ayofor et al, ), except if doses of the alcohol extract up to 1 g/kg body wt.…”

“…The authors further observed that low doses of F. tessmannii extract facilitated epididymal sperm transit, a mechanism thought to be responsible for the decrease in sperm quality and DSP of rats, whereas higher doses could normalise the transit sperm time and increase the DSP, sperm count and testosterone concentration (Fernande, Porto, Arena, & Kempinas, ; Lembe, Gasco, & Gonzales, ; Lembe et al, ). Enhanced spermatogenesis was also observed especially at the length of stages VII‐VIII and IX‐XI of the seminiferous tubule, suggesting that F. tessmannii must act at the initial stages of spermatogenesis (Lembe et al, , ). The observed deficit in gonadal weights along with decreased sperm count, DSP and testosterone concentration especially with the lowest dose of F. tessmannii (0.01 g/kg body wt.)…”

“…where testosterone concentration and spermatogenesis were enhanced. The higher testosterone level that was associated with the high dose of F. tessmannii was responsible for normalising the sperm transit time (Lembe et al, ). It is believed that the combination of L. meyenii (black maca) with F. tessmannii improves gonadal activities of rats only at higher doses of F. tessmannii irrespective of whether F. tessmannii was administered alone (Lembe et al, ) or in combination with L. meyenii (Lembe et al, ).…”

Calidad seminal en ovinos pelibuey con inclusión de Hibiscus rosa-sinensis en la dieta

“…Lembe et al, (2014) evaluaron los efectos de la combinación de Lepidium meyenii y Fagara tessmannii observaron que en dosis altas se observa un aumento significativo (P<0.05) del conteo espermático El efecto observado del H. rosasinensis en la motilidad individual y las subpoblaciones espermáticas podría estar mediado a través de cambios en la concentración de calcio, que es inversamente proporcional al movimiento. Los iones de bicarbonato activan la cAMP, lo que ha llevado a la protein Kinase C a ser uno de los reguladores del movimiento espermático (Mortimer, 1997), y cambios en la composición o el pH del plasma seminal pueden ser la causa de las diferencias en motilidad individual.…”

Lepidium meyenii

“…They concluded that camu camu had potential effects improving spermatogenesis and co-administered with maca increased stages of mitosis, meiosis and spermiation of the spermatogenic cycle of rats. Administration of a hydroalcoholic extract of Fagara tessmannii (1 g) and Lepidium meyenii (black maca) (50 mg) together to rats significantly increased the number of spermatids, epididymis sperm count, daily sperm production and serum testosterone concentration when compared to the control (Lembè et al 2014 ). The results indicated that the combination of Lepidium meyenii (black maca) with Fagara tessmannii could improve male reproductive organs activities in rats.…”