Abstract:
Background: The Ayurvedic medicinal system claims Mucuna pruriens (MP) to possess pro-male fertility, aphrodisiac and
adaptogenic properties. Some scientific evidence also supports its pro-male fertility properties; however, the mechanism of
its action is not yet clear. The present study aimed at demonstrating spermatogenic restorative efficacy of MP and its major
constituent L-DOPA (LD), and finding the possible mechanism of action thereof in a rat model.
Methodology/Findings: Ethinyl estradiol (EE) was administered at a rate of 3 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day for a period of
14 days to generate a rat model with compromised spermatogenesis. MP and LD were administered in two separate groups
of these animals starting 15th day for a period of 56 days, and the results were compared with an auto-recovery (AR) group.
Sperm count and motility, testis histo-architecture, level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane
potential (MMP), apoptosis, peripheral hormone levels and testicular germ cell populations were analysed, in all
experimental groups. We observed efficient and quick recovery of spermatogenesis in MP and LD groups in comparison to
the auto-recovery group. The treatment regulated ROS level, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP),
recovered the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and the number of testicular germ cells, ultimately leading to increased
sperm count and motility.
Conclusion/Significance: M. pruriens efficiently recovers the spermatogenic loss induced due to EE administration. The
recovery is mediated by reduction in ROS level, restoration of MMP, regulation of apoptosis and eventual increase in the
number of germ cells and regulation of apoptosis. The present study simplified the complexity of mechanism involved and
provided meaningful insights into MP/LD mediated correction of spermatogenic impairment caused by estrogens exposure.
This is the first study demonstrating that L-DOPA largely accounts for pro-spermatogenic properties of M. pruriens.
