The effects of red ginseng (Panax ginseng), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and Tribulus terrestris extracts on sperm parameters, DNA integrity, and malondialdehyde levels in ethanol-induced infertile male mice

Gholamzadeh, Mohadeseh; Deghani Ashkezari, Mahmood; Agha-Rahimi, Azam; Nabi, Ali; Mangoli, Esmat

doi:10.48307/FMSJ.2025.29.4.316

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Volume 29, Issue 4 (Bimonthly 2025)

Feyz Med Sci J 2025, 29(4): 316-329

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The effects of red ginseng (Panax ginseng), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and Tribulus terrestris extracts on sperm parameters, DNA integrity, and malondialdehyde levels in ethanol-induced infertile male mice

Mohadeseh Gholamzadeh

, Mahmood Deghani Ashkezari

, Azam Agha-Rahimi

, Ali Nabi ^*

, Esmat Mangoli

Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi Universityof Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran , ali.nabi67@yahoo.com

Abstract: (297 Views)

Background and Aim: Male infertility is a multifactorial disorder influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Among current therapeutic approaches, medicinal plants have attracted attention due to their therapeutic potential and lower side effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Panax ginseng (red ginseng), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and Tribulus terrestris extracts on sperm quality in an ethanol-induced model of male infertility in mice.
Methods: In this experimental study, 50 male Syrian mice were randomly divided into 10 groups of 5 animals each: negative control, positive control (ethanol-induced infertility), sham (distilled water), and seven treatment groups receiving either individual or combined plant extracts. Extracts were administered orally by gavage for 35 days. At the end of the intervention, sperm parameters (motility and viability), sperm DNA integrity (based on fragmentation and chromatin maturation), and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as an index of oxidative stress were assessed.
Results: Ethanol-induced infertility resulted in a significant reduction in all sperm parameters and a significant increase in MDA levels compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Treatment with each individual plant extract significantly improved sperm motility, viability, and DNA integrity compared to the ethanol group. Although combined extracts also showed beneficial effects, these were not superior to single-extract treatments.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that Panax ginseng (red ginseng), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and Tribulus terrestris extracts may improve sperm quality parameters in ethanol-induced infertility, potentially through mechanisms such as reducing oxidative stress. However, combined use of these extracts did not demonstrate an additive advantage over single-extract administration.

Keywords: Red Ginseng, Ginger, Tribulus terrestris, Sperm, Mice, Infertility

Full-Text [PDF 811 kb] (89 Downloads)

Type of Study: Research | Subject: medicine, paraclinic
Received: 2025/06/11 | Revised: 2025/10/1 | Accepted: 2025/09/2 | Published: 2025/09/29

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Gholamzadeh M, Deghani Ashkezari M, Agha-Rahimi A, Nabi A, Mangoli E. The effects of red ginseng (Panax ginseng), ginger (Zingiber officinale), and Tribulus terrestris extracts on sperm parameters, DNA integrity, and malondialdehyde levels in ethanol-induced infertile male mice. Feyz Med Sci J 2025; 29 (4) :316-329
URL: http://feyz.kaums.ac.ir/article-1-5358-en.html

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