Infertility is a significant cause of anxiety, depression, and social stigma among couples and families. In such cases, male reproductive factors contribute widely to the extent of 20–70%. Male infertility is a multifactorial disease with several complications contributing to its diagnosis. Although its management encompasses both modern and traditional medicine arenas, the first line of treatment, adopted by most males, focuses on the reasonably successful medicinal plant-based conventional therapies. Phyto-therapeutics, which relies on active ingredients from traditionally known herbs, influences sexual behavior and male fertility factors. The potency of these phyto-actives depends on their preparation methods and forms of consumption, including decoctions, extracts, semi-purified compounds, etc., as inferred from in vitro and in vivo (laboratory animal models and human) studies. The mechanisms of action therein involve the testosterone pathway for stimulation of spermatogenesis, reduction of oxidative stress, inhibition of inflammation, activation of signaling pathways in the testes [extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK)/protein kinase B(PKB)/transformation of growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1)/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells NF-kB signaling pathways] and mediation of sexual behavior. This review critically focuses on the medicinal plants and their potent actives, along with the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the successful management of male infertility. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on medicinal plants that improve male reproductive health.

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男性不育症的植物疗法：重要见解和科学更新

不孕不育是导致夫妻和家庭焦虑、抑郁和社会耻辱感的重要原因。在这种情况下，男性生殖因素占 20-70%。男性不育症是一种多因素疾病，有多种并发症有助于其诊断。尽管其管理包括现代和传统医学领域，但大多数男性采用的第一线治疗侧重于相当成功的基于药用植物的常规疗法。植物疗法依赖于传统草药的活性成分，影响性行为和男性生育因素。这些植物活性物质的效力取决于它们的制备方法和食用形式，包括煎剂、提取物、半纯化化合物等，从体外和体内（实验室动物模型和人类）研究推断。其中的作用机制涉及睾酮途径刺激精子发生、减少氧化应激、抑制炎症、激活睾丸信号通路[细胞外调节激酶（ERK）/蛋白激酶B（PKB）/生长因子转化-β 1(TGF-β1)/活化 B 细胞 NF-kB 信号通路的核因子 kappa-轻链增强子] 和性行为的调解。这篇综述重点关注药用植物及其有效活性成分，以及调节与成功治疗男性不育相关的重要通路的生化和分子机制。

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