The Effect of Eurycoma longifolia on Sperm Quality of Male Rats

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of a standardized methanol extract of E. longifolia Jack containing the major quassinoid constituents of 13α(21)-epoxyeurycomanone (1), eurycomanone (2), 13α,21-dihydroeurycomanone (3) and eurycomanol (4) on the epididymal spermatozoa profile of normal and Andrographis paniculata induced infertile rats. The standardized MeOH extract at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, the EtOAc fraction (70 mg/kg), and standardized MeOH extract at 200 mg/kg co-administered with the EtOAc fraction of A. paniculata at 70 mg/kg were each given orally to male Sprague-Dawley albino rats for 48 consecutive days. The spermatozoa count, morphology, motility, plasma testosterone level and Leydig cell count of the animals were statistically analyzed by ANOVA with a post-hoc Tukey HSD test. The results showed that the sperm count of rats given the standardized MeOH extract alone at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg were increased by 78.9, 94.3 and 99.2 %, respectively when compared with that of control (p < 0.01). The low count, poor motility and abnormal morphology of the spermatozoa induced by the A. paniculata fraction were significantly reversed by the standardized MeOH extract of E. longifolia (p < 0.001). The plasma testosterone level of the rats treated with the standardized MeOH extract at 200 mg/kg was significantly increased (p < 0.01) when compared with that of the control and infertile animals. The spermatocytes in the seminiferous tubules and the Leydig cells appeared normal. Testosterone level was significantly higher in the testes (p < 0.01) than in the plasma after 30 days of oral treatment with the standardized MeOH extract. Interestingly, eurycomanone (2) alone was detected in the rat testis homogenates by HPLC-UV and confirmed by LC/MS, and may have contributed towards the improvement of sperm quality. Thus, the plant may potentially be suitable for the management of male infertility.

In vivoeffects ofEurycoma longifoliaJack (Tongkat Ali) extract on reproductive functions in the rat

“…In South‐East Asia, the Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) is very popular and numerous publications on the various effects of this natural remedy are available. With regard to the aphrodisiac and profertility properties of the root extract of Tongkat Ali, some reports on its ability to increase serum testosterone levels have been published (Chan et al ., ; Zanoli et al ., ; Tambi et al ., ; Henkel R, Solomon M, Erasmus N, unpublished). Other studies showed that Tongkat Ali increased sexual motivation and performance (Ang & Sim, , ,b; Ang & Ngai, ).…”

“…Because studies on the efficacy of treatment with this plant are limited to sperm motility and concentration as well as testosterone levels, this study is aimed at shedding more light on the effects of Tongkat Ali on functional sperm parameters not previously discussed, as well as the general well‐being, body and organ weight of the treated animals. As expected and previously reported (Chan et al ., ; Zanoli et al ., ; Tambi et al ., ; Henkel et al ., unpublished), treatment of the rats caused a dose‐dependent increase in the serum testosterone concentration. The actual biochemical mechanism for this testosterone‐enhancing effect is still not known in detail.…”

Plants in the management of male infertility

“…There is also the possibility that phosphodiesterase action is inhibited resulting in high local level of cAMP needed to drive the steroidogenesis cascade for the up‐regulation of testosterone synthesis (Low et al, ). To confirm this hypothesis, Chan et al () earlier reported that testosterone level in the testis of rats receiving methanol extract of E. longifolia was higher than the level in the plasma compared to the untreated control animals, suggesting a target effect of E. longifolia on the testis of experimental animals (Low et al, ).…”

Acute, Reproductive Toxicity and Two‐generation Teratology Studies of a Standardized Quassinoid‐rich Extract of Eurycoma longifolia Jack in Sprague–Dawley Rats

“…Recently, the water extract of E. longifolia was reported to improve the idiopathic male infertility (Tambi and Imran, 2010) and increase the testosterone level of lateonset hypogonadism in men (Tambi et al, 2011). Previous studies have shown that the sperm concentration of the normal and oligospermic animals was increased following oral treatment of a standardized E. longifolia extract (Chan et al, 2009;Low et al, 2013b). Eurycomanone, the major quassinoid constituent in the extract increasing the testosterone secretion in testicular interstitial cells by inhibition of phosphodiesterase and aromatase activities (Low et al, 2013a), further provided an explanation of the extract improvement on spermatogenesis and fertility via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (Low et al, 2013b).…”