Author(s): Mohd. Khursheed Alam, Rais UR Rahman and Nasir Jamal

Abstract: Oligozoospermia is a decrease in semen concentration below 15 million sperm per milliliter (WHO). There is a defect in sperm production which may be due to surgically treatable causes like varicocele, exposure to thermal or chemical, environmental factors suppressing spermatogenesis, hormonal factors, intrinsic testicular defect or idiopathic cause. It is responsible for 90% of male infertility. In the classical Unani literature, the semen abnormalities are mentioned under the caption of Qillat-e-Mani and Riqqat-e-Mani. The term ‘Qillat’ means deficiency, ‘Mani’ means semen and ‘Riqqat’ means fluidity. Both these Qillat and Riqqat-e-Mani are mainly responsible for sexual disorders like Zof-e-Bah (Sexual dysfunction), Surat-e-Anzal (Premature ejaculation), Ehtelam (Nocturnal emission), Uqr (Infertility), Jiryan (Spermatorrhoea) etc. Decreased quantity of Huwain-e-Manvia (spermatozoa) in Mani (seminal fluid) is called oligozoospermia i.e., Qillat-e-Mani or Qillat-e-Huwain-e-Manvia. Unani physicians have been treating this not only to improve numbers of spermatozoa but also other defects of spermatozoa for so long. The causes, aetio-pathogenesis, clinical presentation, line of treatment and management for Qillat-e-Mani have been described in detail in almost all the classical Unani text books. This study was aimed to review the concept of Qillat-e-Mani (oligozoospermia) in the perspective of Unani system of medicine and to develop & evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Unani single herb, Mucuna pruriens (Tukhm-e-kaunch) in the management of Oligozoospermia on scientific parameters.