Infertility is a chief health concern that affects nearly 15% of couples around the world1. Approximately fifty percent of the infertility cases are due to male factors which includes; genetic disorder (hormonal imbalance), infection, duct obstruction, un-descendent testicles, trauma or oxidative stress, excessive smoking and alcohol intake2.
In previous studies it was also demonstrated that long/short term exposure of alcohol could also alter testicular morphology resulting in low sperm count and infertility3.
Korean or Chinese ginseng is a famous herbal medicine used for treating various ailments around the world. For many years, ginseng roots have been broadly used in Asian traditional medicine to treat different disarrays or dysfunctions particularly for sexual dysfunction4.
Among ginsenosides found in ginseng, Ginsenoside Rg1 is the most abundant and active steroid having similar structural identity with a number of sex hormones5. Along with this GRg1 possess many more biological properties.
Keeping in view the above mentioned facts, scientists conducted a study, in which they artificially induced infertility in male rats’ model with ethanol induction and evaluate the effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 on them6.
For this study 32 male rats were divided into 4 groups having 4 different types of treatment. All treatments were given for 28 days orally.
It was found that the weights of epididymis, testis, seminal vesicles, testicular sperm count, sperm viability, serum testosterone levels and sperm motility were significantly elevated by introduction of GRg1 at two doses concentration. Testicular antioxidant enzymes were also increased.
The supplementation of both doses GRg1 i.e. 20 and 40mg demonstrated noteworthy anti-infertility or spermatogenesis effect by enhancing gonads weight, sperm count, motility, viability and antioxidant status (lowering MDA) and steroidogenic enzymes and testosterone levels as well as improving the testicular morphology on ethanol inebriated rats. However, GRg1 40 showed better anti-infertility activity than GRg1 20.
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Written by: Rabeeia
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21 August, 2019
