The ameliorative effect of active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine on male reproductive injury: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Due to their unique advantages of multi-target synergy and holistic regulation, traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) show promising clinical applications in enhancing male reproductive function. The 'Qianjin Fang' and 'Compendium of Materia Medica' document the use of Wuzhi Yanzong Wan, Cistanche, Cuscuta, and Epimedium for over a thousand years in the preservation of male reproductive health. AIM OF THIS REVIEW: This article provides a systematic review of research progress on the use of active components in TCM (including flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, and polysaccharides) and related formulas in improving male reproductive damage. These compounds improve male fertility by regulating multiple signaling pathways. Furthermore, this review outlines future research directions and potential applications in this field, aiming to lay a theoretical foundation for the clinical treatment of male reproductive health using TCM and the development of novel therapeutic interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relevant literature on the effects of active ingredients in TCM and related formulas on improving male reproductive damage was retrieved from multiple databases, including Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, etc. RESULTS: Active components of TCM (such as icariin, hypericin, and quercetin) and their compound formulations (such as Guilu Erxian Jiao and Wuziyan Zongwan) can improve male reproductive damage by modulating core pathological cascades-including oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and endocrine disruption-and restoring the physiological microenvironment essential for normal spermatogenesis. CONCLUSION: Extensive experiments have been performed to investigate the effects of active ingredients and herbal formulas on improving male reproductive dysfunction, revealing that TCM has the potential to combat male reproductive dysfunction through multi-level, multi-target mechanisms. However, there is a lack of reviews addressing the causes of male reproductive dysfunction and related treatment approaches. Therefore, this review aims to summarize current research progress in the use of TCM to combat male reproductive dysfunction, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for future preclinical validation and clinical application in the treatment of male reproductive dysfunction.