Protective Effects of Plants Against Nicotine Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Animal Models: A Literature Review

Nicotine the major ingredient in Cigarette is said to have many adverse effects on Spermatozoa and its parameters and affects various other fertility factors. The damages caused by cigarette smoking are due to the biological finding that Nicotine increases the level of free radicals, which results in oxidative stress. These increased the free radicals which also causes DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in human sperm, thus resulting in impairment of sperm quality. Nicotine administration in experimental animals affect spermatogenesis, epididymal sperm count, motility and the fertilizing potential of sperms. A huge number of medicinal herbs have been listed in siddha system that improve spermatogenesis and increase the quality of sperm. This review provides an overview on the association between male fertility induced by nicotine and protective effects of various herbal plants against sperm damages.