Argyreia nervosa (Brum.f.) Bojer. alleviates diabetes mellitus-induced male infertility.

BACKGROUND

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) impairs male reproductive functions by modulating apoptosis, oxidation, and the inflammatory pathway. The studies were planned to screen the ability of the hydro-alcoholic extract (AN) prepared using the roots of Argyreia nervosa (A. nervosa) (Burm.Fil.) Bojer. (Family: Convolvulaceae) in alleviating the DM-induced detrimental functioning of male reproductive functions in experimental rats.

METHOD AND

RESULTS

Diabetic conditions were induced by the combined administration of a high-fat diet and a single injection of streptozotocin (30 mg/kg). Diabetic rats treated with a higher dose of A. nervosa extract (ANH) showed decreased fasting blood glucose (0.52-fold), abnormal sperm morphology (0.50-fold), and sperm DNA fragmentation index (0.74-fold), along with improved semen quality. ANH increased testicular testosterone (1.40-fold), FSH (1.91-fold), LH (1.69-fold), and mRNA expression of StAR (1.75-fold), 17β-HSD (1.77-fold), and 3β-HSD (1.06-fold). It reduced MDA (0.72-fold) and raised SOD (1.93-fold) and GSH (2.13-fold). ANH also lowered mRNA/protein levels of RAGE (0.75-fold, 8.81-fold), TNF-α (0.79-fold, 2.11-fold), NLRP3 (0.68-fold, 8.15-fold), and Caspase-3 (0.87-fold, 8.45-fold).

CONCLUSION

AN, thus, showed the potential beneficial effects on DM-induced male infertility, probably through its ability to counter DM induced apoptosis and inflammation in testicular tissues along with supporting anti-oxidant mechanisms. The extract could upregulate testosterone biosynthesis by modulating steroidogenic enzyme activity and stimulating FSH and LH levels. This action further supported the improvement of sperm functioning parameters in diabetic rats. These results provided the potential of AN as an alternative treatment for the clinical management of DM-impaired male reproductive function, offering hope for future research and clinical applications.