Evaluation of antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory effect and the mechanisms of action of phenolic compounds from South African indigenous plants used in the management of diabetes-related male infertility

Hyperglycaemia is the main instigator of the development of male infertility in men with diabetes mellitus (DM), due to consequent oxidative stress in the semen. Supplementation with antioxidants sourced from medicinal plants is beneficial in the treatment of DM-related male infertility. However, a search for more efficacious and easily accessibly medicinal plants is paramount. This study focussed on the identification and compound screening of aqueous leaf extracts of medicinal plants commonly used in Limpopo for the treatment of diabetes-related male infertility. This study was further aimed to investigate the effect of these extracts on sperm parameters in hyperglycaemic-induced human sperm (n=25). Two medicinal plants (<i>Garcinia livingstonei</i> and <i>Androstachys johnsonii</i>) were identified and used in this study. Compound profiling of the extracts revealed the presence of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hyperglycaemic compounds. While hyperglycaemia induction led to the reduction of sperm parameters such as sperm motility, vitality, DNA integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and capacitation due to oxidative stress, both plant extract (concentration dependant) improved the sperm parameters. These findings revealed the therapeutic potential of the selected plants in the treatment of DM-related male infertility. From this study, 4 articles were published in peer-reviewed journals, while 2 more are currently under review.