Murendeni Nethengwe
1 
, Kunle Okaiyeto
1 , Chinyerum S. Opuwari
2 , Oluwafemi O. Oguntibeju
1* 1 Phytomedicine and Phytochemistry Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville 7535, South Africa
2 Department of Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
Abstract
The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to rise at an alarming rate. DM leads to a decline in male reproductive function. Hyperglycaemia is an instigator of both oxidative stress and inflammation in the male reproductive system. The presence of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory markers in the semen of diabetic individuals results in the decline of sperm parameters. Despite ongoing advancements in the treatment of DM with conventional drugs, concern about treatment costs and side effects is high. Scientific research focus has therefore shifted to investigating naturally occurring safer, cheaper, and more effective treatments. This review outlined the link between hyperglycaemia and diabetic complications, and the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in the development of male infertility. We also reviewed the effects of phytochemicals in medicinal plants in treating DM-related male infertility. This review concluded that oxidative stress and inflammation are instigators of the decline in sperm parameters in diabetic conditions. The administration of medicinal plant extracts with hypoglycaemic, anti-diabetic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties can potentially restore diabetic-related male reproductive dysfunction.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
This review outlined the role hyperglycaemia in the occurrence of oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes-related male infertility. Thereafter, medicinal plants and their phenolic compounds were reviewed as potential therapeutic interventions in the treatment of diabetes-related male infertility.
Please cite this paper as: Nethengwe M, Okaiyeto K, Opuwari CS, Oguntibeju OO. The role of hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress, and inflammation in diabetes-related male infertility: Therapeutic properties of medicinal plants. J Herbmed Pharmacol. 2025;14(3):265-276. doi: 10.34172/jhp.2025.52803.