Supplement Godfather

Astragalus

Many studies suggest a positive role for astragalus in the treatment of various diseases. In a study recently published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers investigated the effects of astragalus on cell numbers and testosterone production of Leydig cells. Several studies have reported a stimulatory effect of astragaloside, one of the main compounds extracted from astragalus, on cell proliferation. Leydig cells influence sexual maturation of males by secreting testosterone, which is influenced by cell number and the rate of steroidogenesis. Significant changes in cell proliferation and testosterone production did occur with treatment of astragalus, and the researchers detected increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the astragalus-treated Leydig cells, which supports the antioxidant role of astragalus. GPx is an enzyme family with peroxidase activity whose main biological role is to protect the organism from oxidative damage. SOD is another enzyme that provides important antioxidant defence in all living cells exposed to oxygen. Previous studies linked the therapeutic effects of astragalus on a variety of serious medical conditions to increased activities of antioxidant enzymes such as GPx and SOD. It’s probable that the increase in Leydig cell numbers is linked, at least in part, to the stimulatory effects of astragalus on SOD and GPx activity. The results suggest that astragalus has favourable effects on the function of Leydig cells and testosterone synthesis, and this study provides a foundation for future studies to understand the mechanisms responsible for the effects astragalus has on male hormonal health.

Arugula for Testicular Health

Arugula, also known as rocket and by its Latin name, Eruca sativa, has been studied for its possible protective effects on the male reproduction system. In a recent animal study, 40 adult male rats were randomly divided into four equal groups and treated daily for 60 days as follows: (1) a control tap water group, (2) a hydrogen peroxide group, (3) a hydrogen peroxide and arugula group, and (4) a arugula-only group. At zero days (pretreated), 30 days, and 60 days of the experiment, fasting blood samples were collected to analyze serum testosterone, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), and semen parameters were also studied.

In the hydrogen peroxide group, there was a significant decrease in serum testosterone, FSH and LH concentrations, compared with other groups. However, there was a significant elevation in serum testosterone, LH and FSH concentrations at two experimental periods in the arugula-only group compared with the control, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrogen peroxide and arugula groups. Hydrogen peroxide resulted in a significant decrease in sperm concentration compared to other experimental groups. These results support the notion that oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide may have triggered some degree of testicular toxicity. The findings of the present study indicate that arugula leaves can improve the testicular functions and spermatogenesis in stressed situations. Thus, this lends credence to arugula’s use as a testosterone-boosting supplement and natural medicine for male hormone health.

Aloe Fights Hormone-Killing Chemicals

Aloe vera leaf gel is another ingredient that’s been recently studied for its sexual health properties. A study recently published in the well-respected Cell Journal analyzed the effects of aloe on oxidative stress parameters and bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical, which has been considered as a possible risk factor for fertility because it induces testicular toxicity. Fifty adult male rats were used in the 56-day study. Animals were completely randomized and divided into multiple groups. Results of the study showed that BPA significantly decreased body and testis weights. But, co-administration of aloe vera with BPA accelerated the total antioxidant capacity and testicular tissue structure healing. So, according to these findings, aloe vera gel extract can overcome the damaging effects of BPA on the reproductive system and protect testes against BPA-induced toxicity. Look out for more studies on aloe and sexual health to come in the future.

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