An overview of potential applications for nanotechnology, probiotics, and medicinal plants in infertility problems

Abstract

Various assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are applied in infertility treatment. However, considerable attention is addressed to using alternative approaches such as non-biotechnology, probiotics, and traditional medicinal plants to treat cancerous and non-cancerous cases of infertility. Nanotechnology has been remarkably aided in treatment, diagnosis, and drug delivery. The available evidence of this technology could show the great potential of nanomaterials and their feasibility in clinical trials for investigating reproductive problems. Regarding the effect of the microbiome in infertility and the extensive positive roles of probiotics in different diseases such as colon cancer, obesity, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease, studies must be focused on infertility. Healthy reproductive systems are important for successful fertility in males and females, and using probiotics can help reduce the associated complications. In addition, in vivo models are required to determine the probiotics proper administration, identify the functional species, effective doses, administration forms, and the effects of their combination with conventional antibiotics. Besides, the role of medicinal plants should be considered, particularly in male infertility and improving sperm abnormalities. Medicinal plant effects refer to their antioxidant potential, anti-inflammatory responses, increasing the production of sperm, and raising the blood level of testosterone. Further research is proposed to document certain results about which responsible compounds are with effective and safe fertility potential. This review presents an overview of potential applications for nanotechnology, probiotics, and medicinal plants in infertility, discussing the advantages, their feasibility, and associated concerns, which demand more investigations to set of clinical applications.