in different groups of infertile men, who were under stress;
such as normozoospermic (19%; P<0.001), oligozoospermic
(33%; P<0.001) and asthenozoospermic
(29%; P<0.001). Treatment with M. pruriens increased
the activity of SOD in normozoospermic (+3%; P<0.01),
oligozoospermic (+33%; P<0.01) and asthenozoospermic
(+18%; P<0.01) men. Similarly, catalase activity
in seminal plasma of ‘under stress’ asthenozoospermic
men was found significantly reduced (30%; P<0.05),
as compared with healthy fertile men. Treatment with
M. pruriens enhanced the activity of the aforementioned
enzyme in all the infertile men.
Ascorbic acid levels in seminal plasma of control group
were 2.30.2 mgdl1. On the other hand, these levels were
found decreased in different groups of infertile men who
were under stress, i.e-normozoospermic (9%; P<0.01),
oligozoospermic (23%; P<0.01) and asthenozoospermic
(36%; P<0.01). After treatment with M. pruriens
the levels of ascorbic acid were found increased in
normozoospermic (+11%; P<0.5), oligozoospermic
(+33%; P<0.01) and asthenozoospermic (+36%;
P<0.01) men (Table 2). Similarly, GSH content in
seminal plasma of under stress normozoospermic (13%;
P>0.05), oligozoospermic (20%; P>0.05) and asthenozoospermic
(47%; P<0.05) infertile men was found
decreased as compared with control group. Treatment with
the drug restored the levels of GSH in normozoospermic
(+19%; P<0.05), oligozoospermic (+18%; P<0.05)
and asthenozoospermic (+22%; P<0.05) men.
Discussion
We observed that oral administration of M. pruriens to
infertile men for 3 months not only resulted in general
improvement in sperm count and motility but it also led to
significant reduction in the level of psychological stress, as
assessed by a questionnaire and serum cortisol levels.
Male fertility and reproduction are known to be affected
by various kinds of stressful conditions, including
psychological stress (26). The autonomic nervous system
and adrenal hormones participate in stress response, which
also affects steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis (27). We
report elevated serum cortisol levels in infertile men, who
were under psychological stress. The latter causes stimulation
of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) leading
to the release of the corticotropin releasing hormone
(CRF), adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and cortisol.
Chronically increased cortisol level, as seen during
prolonged stress, may reduce the functional activity of
leuteinizing hormone—release hormone (LHRH) pulse
generator, which may lead to decrease in gonadotropin
and testosterone levels (26,28). Moreover, long-term
psychological stress may also decrease the concentration
of catchecholamines, like dopamine, noradrenalin,
5,6,dihydroxy phenyl acetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic
acid (HVA) in brain. Decrease in the activity of
dopaminergic neurons is also known to affect the fertility,
sperm count and motility. There are reports that
M. pruriens is also rich in L-DOPA, besides having several
other alkaloids and flavonoids. Therefore, our results
demonstrating reduction in psychological stress following
administration of M. pruriens may be linked to high
L-DOPA content of this herb (29).
Our results also demonstrate that lipid peroxide levels
were significantly high in the seminal plasma of subjects
who were under stress, which may be due to increased
oxidative stress. Psychological stress is known to be
associated with increased oxidant production and longterm
exposure to stress may lead to peroxidation of
polyunsaturated fatty acids of sperm membrane, resulting
in unfavorable alterations in sperm structure and function
(6,7). Moreover, we also observed that in infertile
men who were under psychological stress, there were low
seminal plasma SOD and catalase activities and reduced
levels of glutathione and ascorbic acid. But there was
improvement in these enzymes and molecule levels
following treatment with M. pruriens. The improvement
in anti-oxidant content following treatment may be due
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