The problem of stimulation of sexual
function of the sexual function, and of spermatogenesis and
ovogenesis in particular, is both of biological and medical
significance, as it is associated with the problem of preservation
of the sexual potential of male and female individuals. According
to statistical data, 10 - 20% of all marriages are childless. In
about 30 - 50% of the cases, male sterility is the cause. The
diagnostics and treatment of male sterility is still a very
difficult task.
At present, drugs on hormonal basis are
predominantly used in the treatment of hypogonadism and genital
anomalies. In fact, the substitutive hormonal therapy is sometimes
ineffective and quite often it induces a lasting hypofunction of
the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Therefore, regardless of
the great number of new, highly effective and possibly less
harmful drugs, studies in this field are very topical. The
formulation of a non-hormonal preparation with sufficient activity
and without harmful side effects, could contribute to overcoming
of the therapeutic problems in the sphere of sexual functional
disorders.
The plant Tribulus terrestris L., has long
been known in folk medicine of both Eastern countries and Bulgaria
and has been used in the treatment of sexual deficiency. The
original phytochemical preparation Tribestan, with stimulating
effect on the sexual functions was formulated and approved for
production and administration in medical practice at the Chemical
Pharmaceutical Research Institute of Pharmachim on the basis of
accumulated data in 1981.
The present booklet is intended to acquaint
the reader with the pharmacological, toxicological and
clinical-therapeutic characteristics of the phytochemical
preparation
Tribestan is an original non-hormonal
preparation. Its active components are non-steroid saponins of the
furostanol type isolated from the plant Tribulus terrestris L.
A pronounced stimulating effect on the
spermatogenesis is observed after the preparation is administered
orally to sexually mature rats.
Increased number of spermatogonia,
spermatocytes, spermatids and mature spermatozoa in the testes has
been observed without widening of the diameter of the seminiferous
tubules. In parallel, increased number of Sertoli cells is
observed in a volume unit from rat testes. Oral administration
stimulates the mitotic activity of spermatogonia in mature rats.
Oral administration of the preparation leads to intensification of
spermatogenesis and enhancement of the quality of spermatozoa in
sexually mature rats. The percentage of motile spermatozoa
increases, the characteristics of their motility improve,
prolonging the period of their viability at the same time. Given
orally to swine, Tribestan stimulates their sexual behavior. The
clinical trials of the preparation have also confirmed the
experimental data.
Tribestan, administered to male subjects
with disorders in the spermogram, due to varicocele, increases the
volume of ejaculated sperm by 1-2 ml, increases spermatozoal
concentration by 30million/ml; increases the percentage of motile
spermatozoa by 30%. The preparation has marked effect on the
motility of spermatozoa in case of oligoasthenozoospermia, as
revealed by the study of its therapeutic properties in men. The
mean number of motile spermatozoa in the group studied was 29%
prior to the study, and later it reached up to 36.6%. The motility
rate of the spermatozoa prior to the treatment was 1.95 mm/sec and
3.76 mm/sec post treatment.
Of definite interest is the treatment of
patients with unilateral and bilateral hypotrophy of the testes,
combined with disorders of the spermogram. The libido was enhanced
after 60-day Tribestan treatment and the characteristics of the
spermogram were improved. Recovery and enhanced libido were
observed in patients with primary and secondary hypogonadism after
administration, as well as prolonged erection.
Both experimental and clinical studies
reveal that Tribestan is not toxic and induces no adverse effects.
