Phoenix dactylifera L. Pollen versus Pentoxifylline on Improvement of Sperm Parameters in Idiopathic Male Infertility: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen is the male reproductive dust of palm flowers known as a natural product that is considered a strong stimulant of sexual potency and fertility in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM). In this regard, no evidence-based medications are empirically prescribed to treat IMI. However, applying traditional medicine for the treatment of male infertility has attracted more attention in recent years.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen was compared with pentoxifylline (PTX) to evaluate its efficacy on sperm parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: During this parallel randomized controlled trial, 80 adult men with asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, or teratozoospermia (age 20-35 years) were enrolled. In two separate groups of participants with a 1:1 ratio, participants received either 6g of Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen powder daily or 400 mg of PTX tablets daily for 90 days. We measured the sperm parameters as well as the serum sex hormones in the sample. ANCOVA and t-tests were used to compare groups.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the study groups in terms of baseline characteristics or demographic characteristics. According to the results, participants who took Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen powder had significantly improved sperm concentration (p=0.016), morphology (p=0.029), sperm counts (p=0.012), progressive motility (p=0.016), total motility (p=0.018), and reduced immotile sperms (p=0.014) compared to those who took PTX.

CONCLUSIONS: In light of these results, Phoenix dactylifera L. pollen is recommended as a treatment factor for ameliorating IMI by enhancing sperm functional capacity and semen parameters.