Rahmat Ali Khan  ( Department of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology, KPK, Pakistan. )

Madam, infertility is one of the climax diseases amongst the sexual dysfunction. Various parameters such as sexual hormonal secretion, sperm motility, concentration and libido are associated with hereditary, smoking, antidepressant drugs and environmental toxins.¹ Various chemical procedures and drugs are available for fertility regulation but having some side effects. On the other hand traditional medicines obtained from natural resources as well as from various medicinal plant extracts are in use since long times for the welfare of humanity and treatment of various diseases including sexual dysfunctions.² Recently researchers are therefore trying to investigate such therapies which have fewer side effects as well as low cost. The present study was therefore designed to evaluate rutin as a natural tonic for the treatment of infertility and sexual dysfunction. Thirty rats obtained National Institute of Health from Islamabad were randomly divided into 3 groups (10 rats per group). Group I was control (untreated), group II was given rutin 50 mg/kg bw while group III was given 100 mg/kg bwintraga strically twice a week for four weeks respectively. After the end of the experiment, serum was obtained from the blood. Sperms were analyzed through microscope while hormonal analysis was carried out via RIA. Result showed that administration of 50 mg/kg bw and 100 mg/kg bw rutin significantly increased (P<0.01) sperm motility, percentage, locomotion, viability as well as enhanced the sperm percentage in treated groups compared to normal rats (Table-1).

Similar reports were obtained during characterization of medicinal plant extract by Al-Saaidi et al. (2009).³ Pituitary, testis and hypothalamus linkage play a keyrole in the germ production cycle. Gonadotropins releasing hormones (GnRH) are released by hypothalamus causing stimulation of pituitary gland to discharge Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH).⁴ Luteinizing hormone (LH) further stimulates testosterones in Leydig cells which combine with Follicle stimulating hormone thus releasing sperms from sertoli and peritubular somniferous tubules.⁴ Findings of the current study revealed that 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg bw rutin administration in rats significantly improved (P<0.01) the secretion of various sexual hormones as shown in Table-2.

Similar funding has been reported by other studies working on medicinal plant extract and bioactive compounds isolated from natural resources. Finding of current investigation showed that rutin may be recommended as a herbal therapy for sexual dysfunction in males.`

Disclaimer: None to declare.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

Funding Sources: None to declare.

References

1. Acarya D, Shrivastava A. Indigeneous Herbal Medicine. In: Acarya D, Shrivastava A, eds. Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal Practices. Jaipur, India: Aavishka Publisher Distributor, 2008; pp 444.

2. Khan MR, Ahmed D. Protective effects of Digera muricata (L.) Mart. on testis against oxidative stress of carbon tetrachloride in rat. Food Chem Toxicol. 2009; 47:1393-9.

3. Al-Saaidi JAA, Al-Khuzai ALD, Al-Zobaydi NFH, Effect of alcoholic extract of Nigella sativa on fertility in male rats. Iran J Reprod Med. 2012; 10:355-62.

4. Williams RJ, Spencer JP, Rice-Evans C. Flavonoids: Antioxidants or Signaling molecules? Free Radic Biol Med. 2004; 36:838-49.