Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Korean red ginseng on semen parameters in male infertility patients: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on semen parameters in male infertility patients in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Methods

A total of 80 male infertility patients with varicocele were recruited from April 2011 to February 2012. The subjects were then divided into the following four groups: non-varicocelectomy (V)+placebo (P) group, V+P group, non-V+KRG group (1.5-g KRG daily), and V+KGR group (1.5-g KRG daily). Semen analysis was performed and hormonal levels were measured in each treatment arm after 12 weeks.

Results

All groups but not the non-V+P group, showed significant improvements in sperm concentrations, motility, morphology, and viability at the end of the study. However, there were no significant differences in serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone among groups. The incidence of adverse events was low, and all events were assumed to be unrelated to the treatments administered.

Conclusions

Although the exact mechanism by which KRG improves spermatogenesis remains unclear, KRG may be a useful agent for the treatment of male infertility. Nevertheless, additional studies to evaluate the optimal dose and duration of treatment are needed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kamischke A, Nieschlag E. Analysis of medical treatment of male infertility. Hum Reprod 1999;14 Suppl 1:1–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Lombardo F, Sansone A, Romanelli F, Paoli D, Gandini L, Lenzi A. The role of antioxidant therapy in the treatment of male infertility: an overview. Asian J Androl 2011;13:690–697.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Vogler BK, Pittler MH, Ernst E. The efficacy of ginseng. A systematic review of randomised clinical trials. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1999;55:567–575.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bahrke MS, Morgan WR. Evaluation of the ergogenic properties of ginseng: an update. Sports Med 2000;29:113–133.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Cho YK, Sung H, Lee HJ, Joo CH, Cho GJ. Long-term intake of Korean red ginseng in HIV-1-infected patients: development of resistance mutation to zidovudine is delayed. Int Immunopharmacol 2001;1:1295–1305.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hong B, Ji YH, Hong JH, Nam KY, Ahn TY. A doubleblind crossover study evaluating the efficacy of Korean red ginseng in patients with erectile dysfunction: a preliminary report. J Urol 2002;168:2070–2073.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Park JS, Hwang SY, Lee WS, Yu KW, Paek KY, Hwang BY, et al. The therapeutic effect of tissue cultured root of wild Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer on spermatogenetic disorder. Arch Pharm Res 2006;29:800–807.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hwang SY, Kim WJ, Wee JJ, Choi JS, Kim SK. Panax ginseng improves survival and sperm quality in guinea pigs exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. BJU Int 2004;94:663–668.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Tsai SC, Chiao YC, Lu CC, Wang PS. Stimulation of the secretion of luteinizing hormone by ginsenoside-Rb1 in male rats. Chin J Physiol 2003;46:1–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen JC, Chen LD, Tsauer W, Tsai CC, Chen BC, Chen YJ. Effects of ginsenoside Rb2 and Rc on inferior human sperm motility in vitro. Am J Chin Med 2001;29:155–160.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang H, Zhou Q, Li X, Zhao W, Wang Y, Liu H, et al. Ginsenoside Re promotes human sperm capacitation through nitric oxide-dependent pathway. Mol Reprod Dev 2007;74:497–501.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Salvati G, Genovesi G, Marcellini L, Paolini P, De Nuccio I, Pepe M, et al. Effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer saponins on male fertility. Panminerva Med 1996;38:249–254.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Takihara H, Sakatoku J, Cockett AT. The pathophysiology of varicocele in male infertility. Fertil Steril 1991;55:861–868.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Lyon RP, Marshall S, Scott MP. Varicocele in childhood and adolescence: implication in adulthood infertility? Urology 1982;19:641–644.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. World Health Organization, Department of Reproductive Health and Research. WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. 2010. Available at: http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/infertility/9789241547789/en/ index.html. Accessed January 20, 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Nieschlag E, Lenzi A. The conventional management of male infertility. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2013;123 Suppl 2:S31–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Park WS, Shin DY, Kim do R, Yang WM, Chang MS, Park SK. Korean ginseng induces spermatogenesis in rats through the activation of cAMP-responsive element modulator (CREM). Fertil Steril 2007;88:1000–1002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Yang WM, Park SY, Kim HM, Park EH, Park SK, Chang MS. Effects of Panax ginseng on glial cellderived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression and spermatogenesis in rats. Phytother Res 2011;25:308–311.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Kim IH, Kim SK, Kim EH, Kim SW, Sohn SH, Lee SC, et al. Korean red ginseng up-regulates C21-steroid hormone metabolism via Cyp11a1 gene in senescent rat Testes. J Ginseng Res 2011;35:272–282.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Jang M, Min JW, In JG, Yang DC. Effects of red ginseng extract on the epididymal sperm motility of mice exposed to ethanol. Int J Toxicol 2011;30:435–442.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Agarwal A, Hamada A, Esteves SC. Insight into oxidative stress in varicocele-associated male infertility: part 1. Nat Rev Urol 2012;9:678–690.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Bae HM, Kim SS, Cho CW, Yang DC, Ko SK, Kim KT. Antioxidant activities of ginseng seeds treated by autoclaving. J Ginseng Res 2012;36:411–417.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Ryu JK, Lee T, Kim DJ, Park IS, Yoon SM, Lee HS, et al. Free radical-scavenging activity of Korean red ginseng for erectile dysfunction in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus rats. Urology 2005;65:611–615.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kim MK, Lee JW, Lee KY, Yang DC. Microbial conversion of major ginsenoside Rb(1) to pharmaceutically active minor ginsenoside Rd. J Microbiol 2005;43:456–462.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Christensen LP, Jensen M. Biomass and content of ginsenosides and polyacetylenes in American ginseng roots can be increased without affecting the profile of bioactive compounds. J Nat Med 2009;63:159–168.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Choi J, Kim TH, Choi TY, Lee MS. Ginseng for health care: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials in Korean literature. PLoS One 2013;8:e59978.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Jang DJ, Lee MS, Shin BC, Lee YC, Ernst E. Red ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction: a systematic review. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2008;66:444–450.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, 602-739, Republic of Korea

    Hyun Jun Park & Nam Cheol Park

  2. Medical Research Institute of Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, 602-739, Republic of Korea

    Hyun Jun Park, Sangmin Choe & Nam Cheol Park

  3. Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Trial Center, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, 602-739, Republic of Korea

    Sangmin Choe

Authors
  1. Hyun Jun Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sangmin Choe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nam Cheol Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nam Cheol Park.

Additional information

Supported by a 2010 grant from the Korean Society for Ginseng funded by the Korean Ginseng Corporation, Republic of Korea

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Park, H.J., Choe, S. & Park, N.C. Effects of Korean red ginseng on semen parameters in male infertility patients: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 22, 490–495 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2139-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2139-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation