Chlorophytum borivilianum aqueous root extract prevents deterioration of testicular function in mice and preserves human sperm function in hydrogen peroxide (HO)-induced oxidative stress.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Chlorophytum borivilianum (C. borivilianum) (CB) has traditionally been used to treat male sexual dysfunctions and has been claimed to possess aphrodisiac properties.

Aim Of The Study: To investigate the ability of CB to ameliorate HO-induced oxidative stress in testes and sperm in mice and prevent HO-induced oxidative in human sperm.

Materials And Methods: Oxidative stress was induced in male mice by pre-exposure to 2% HO orally for seven consecutive days, followed by 100 and 200 mg/kg b. w. administration. CB for another seven days. At the end of treatment, mice were sacrificed and testes and epididymal sperm were harvested. Serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels were measured and sperm parameters were obtained. Meanwhile, oxidative stress levels in mice testes and sperm, steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis markers in mice testes were assessed by molecular biological techniques. In another experiment, sperm from thirty-two healthy fertile men were incubated with 200 μM HO and CB (100 and 200 μg/ml) simultaneously and were then evaluated for sperm parameter changes.

Results: In mice, CB administration ameliorates persistent increases in oxidative stress and decreases in anti-oxidative enzyme levels in testes and sperm following HO pre-exposure. Additionally, CB also helps to ameliorate deterioration in sperm parameters and testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis and restores the serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels near normal in mice. In humans, CB helps to prevent deterioration in sperm parameters following HO exposure.

Conclusion: CB is potentially useful to preserve the male reproductive capability and subsequently male fertility in high oxidative stress conditions.