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Apr 10th, 2006 - 12:14:17 |
BERLIN (Reuters) - Men trying to boost their fertility may soon receive help from an unusual source - a plant grown for centuries in East Africa and the Middle East.
The leaves of the khat plant, which is also known as qat, are chewed for the feeling of euphoria they produce. But scientists at King's College London have discovered that they also contain chemicals that help sperm mature and fertilise an egg.
"We envisage the development of products that could be taken by individuals, either couples who might be having trouble conceiving or even those who have just decided to try to conceive, and who have no obvious problems," Professor Lynn Fraser told a fertility conference in Berlin on Monday.
The chemicals could also be used as additives to sperm in fertility treatments, she added.
In studies of mouse and human sperm, the scientists discovered that amphetamine-like compounds which belong to a group of chemicals known as phenylpropanolamines (PPAs) stimulated and extended the final maturing process in sperm.
"These preliminary data suggest PPAs, at appropriate doses, might provide a new approach to enhancing natural fertility," Lynn said.
Other PPAs related to the compounds in khat leaves are already used in prescription and over-the-counter products such as dietary supplements for weight loss and an asthma treatment.
But Lynn, who presented the research at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, said more research is needed to study the effect of PPAs on the ovaries, sperm and testes before they can be developed into a treatment for humans.
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