In recent years, herbal products have attracted scientists as a primary source of naturally occurring antifertility agents for male fertility regulation. This might be because of limitations of currently available contraceptive options (condoms, hormonal and non-hormonal regimes, surgical and immunological approaches) for male fertility regulation, and also due its ready availability, cost-effectiveness, and most importantly the protection of privacy; further, developing an antifertility agent from a plant source has low toxicity. An ideal herbal male contraceptive should be orally active, safe, reversible, and effective with no adverse effect on libido. The biologically active and eco-friendly substances in plant preparations exhibit contraceptive effects in males due to spermicidal actions, suppression of spermatogenesis, altered forward motility, and fertilizing abilities of spermatozoa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 65–80% of the world’s population in developing countries depends essentially on plants for their primary healthcare due to poverty and lack of access to modern medicine. In the recent past, a variety of preparations and active principles from different parts of the plants viz. seeds, stem, leaves, flowers, root or stem barks, etc. have been searched out in different animal models by researchers to determine their impact on male fertility. The search for medicinal plants and their products for regulation of male fertility in India and other countries is still in progress with promising results. Thus, plants hold a promising future in the regulation of male fertility. There is, therefore, a need for exploring new plants/plant preparations for the control of fertility.
Author(s) Details:
Prakash Chandra Gupta
Department of Zoology, Keshav Prasad Mishra Rajkiya Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Bhadohi-221 301
(Affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith), Varanasi, India.
Laxmi Yadav
Department of Zoology, Keshav Prasad Mishra Rajkiya Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Bhadohi-221 301 (Affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith), Varanasi, India.
Recent Global Research Developments in Herbal Contraceptives: Rising Trends
Background: Population control is crucial for global health, prompting extensive research in male contraception. While synthetic contraceptives exist, they often come with adverse effects [1]. Let’s explore herbal alternatives.
Herbal Male Contraceptives:
Significant Plants: Traditional medicinal plants and extracts have demonstrated antifertility effects in males. These plants are used for their spermicidal and antispermatogenic properties, affecting essential hormones for fertility. Some have undergone animal and human studies [1].
Mechanism of Action: Understanding sperm formation and hormone production is essential. Herbal contraceptives may offer promising alternatives to synthetic options [1].
Conclusion: Further research is needed to explore the chemical and biological properties of lesser-known plants. We aim for modern, potent, self-administrable, cost-effective, and reversible male contraceptives [1].
References
- Verma, S., Yadav, A. Rising trends towards the development of oral herbal male contraceptive: an insight review. Futur J Pharm Sci 7, 23 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-020-00154-7
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