Chinese ‘thunder god’ herb may be magic ingredient of male pill

A HERB used in traditional Chinese medicine could help develop the first male contraceptive pill, scientists have said.

A team of researchers in the United States found that the “thunder god” vine temporarily deforms sperm, meaning they are unable to fertilise an egg.

The herb is currently used to treat arthritis but it is now thought it could provide a safe, non-hormonal and reversible contraceptive pill for men.

The triptonide compound extracted from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F – commonly known as the “thunder god” or “thunder duke” vine – is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

But since the 1980s it has also been reported to halt fertility in men taking the supplement over several months.

Researchers from the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation in California gave the compound to male mice and monkeys, and found the animals became infertile in four to six weeks. The team also noted that fertility in the animals returned within the same time frame after they stopped giving them the compound – meaning the effects are only temporary.

Analysis suggests the compound targets sperm during the last stages of assembly, altering it so it is unable to swim forwards to fertilise an egg.

Dr Wei Yan, the lead author of the study, said the exciting new discovery could provide “the ideal male contraceptive”.

He said: “Thanks to decades of basic research which inspired us to develop the idea, [we have found] that a compound that targets a protein critical for the last several steps of sperm assembly would lead to the production of nonfunctional sperm without causing severe depletion of testicular cells.

“We are very excited the new idea worked and that this compound appears to be an ideal male contraceptive. Our results using non-injurious studies on lower primates suggest triptonide will be an effective treatment for human males as well.”

Though human trials are yet to take place, triptonide appears to have few side-effects, and is said to be completely reversible and non-hormonal – unlike existing contraceptive pills used by females. The team hope to begin clinical trials on humans soon.

Dr Yan added: “Hopefully, we will be able to make the non-hormonal male contraceptive a reality.”

The University of Edinburgh announced they were running trials of a male hormonal contraceptive gel in 2019.

‘We are very excited the new idea worked and that this compound appears to be an ideal male contraceptive’