Mucuna pruriens seeds restore male fertility
Source: Fertility and Sterility 2007; Advance online publication
Investigating the impact of Mucuna pruriens seed treatment on semen profiles among infertile men.
MedWire News: Researchers believe that infertile men can improve their semen profiles by eating Mucuna pruriens seeds.
Extracts of the M. pruriens plant are thought to increase sperm secretion and act as a restorative agent for infertile men, the researchers explain.
They assessed the effect of 5 mg/day of M. pruriens seed powder for 3 months on 60 infertile and 60 fertile men aged 30 to 40 years. Among the infertile men, 20 each were normozoospermic, oligozoospermic, and asthenozoospermic.
Treatment with M. pruriens significantly increased the sperm concentration in normozoospermic, oligozoospermic, and asthenozoospermic men, by 36.6×106/ml, 44.08×106/ml, and 18.73×106/ml respectively, compared with pre-treatment levels.
Sperm motility and semen volume were also significantly increased, as was sperm count per ejaculate in all men compared with pre-treatment levels. Indeed, both oligozoospermic and normozoospermic men achieved a combined pregnancy success rate of 30 percent following M. pruriens treatment, the study findings indicate.
Seed treatment only restored sperm concentrations to normal fertile levels among normozoospermic or oligozoospermic men. Concentrations remained below normal in asthenozoospermic men.
"There is a need for further in-depth studies to investigate the role of M. pruriens and its biologically active compounds in increasing the fertilizing potential in infertile men," conclude Abbas Mahdi (King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India) and co-workers.
Mucuna Pruriens Bio
MUCUNA PRURIENS - COWITCH.
Synonym
Dolichos pruriens.
Common name
Velvet bean, cowhage, sea beans, nescafe, kratzbohnen, cowitch, ojo de venado, true sea-bean, kaw ai.
Family
Fabaceae / Legume family.
Overview_Nescafe is a climbing woody vine (liana) from the rainforest in Suriname with purple flowers._The species Mucuna sloanei (horseeye - or hamburger bean), has beautiful yellow flowers but is almost identical with Mucuna pruriens._These flowers are pollinated by bats._The seed pods, about 4 inch long, are covered with very small velvety hairs that can be very painful on contact with the skin. The seeds resemble the eye of a bull; they are often collected and made into lovely necklaces and bracelets._The seeds of nescafe in the pods are rich in amino acid L dopa, precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine._It is applied to patients suffering from Parkinson disease._L Dopa stimulates human growth hormone released by the pituitary gland. Mucuna pruriens increases testosterone levels. Nescafe is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and also used as an aphrodisiac._The toasted ground seeds are used as a coffee substitute in Brazil; the young pods are cooked and eaten in India.__Suriname's traditional medicine_The burned seeds are used as an ointment against swollen glands.__Hardiness _USDA zone 9B - 11._Propagation _Seeds._Culture _Full sun / light shade, needs high humidity.