Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Panax ginseng supplementation protects against testicular damage induced by radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation from cell phone

  • Research
  • Published:
Nutrire Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

It is well-documented that radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF-EMR) from the cell phone contributes to testicular dysfunction and subsequently predisposes individuals, especially male to infertility. Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) exerts antioxidant, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects in biological systems. However, its protective role against reproductive dysfunction, including testiculopathy is unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the protective effects of P. ginseng extract on testicular damage induced by RF-EMR from cell phones in male Wistar rats.

Methods

Twenty adult male Wistar rats (120–150 g) were randomly divided into four groups of n = 5; Control group received vehicle (normal saline, po), P. ginseng group received 200 mg/kg of P. ginseng extract (po), RF-EMR group was exposed to 900MHz of radiation and RF-EMR + P. ginseng group was exposed to 900MHz of radiation and was concomitantly treated with 200 mg/kg of P. ginseng (po). The treatment was done daily for 56 days. The animals were sacrificed, and the biochemical/endocrine parameters and the histology of testes were evaluated.

Results

There was a significant decrease in spermatogonia, sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology with decrease in progressivity in RF-EMR group compared with control. Likewise, a significant decrease was observed in serum-luteinizing hormone, testosterone and glutathione peroxidase with degeneration of germ cells and Leydig cells, and a distorted interstitium in RF-EMR group compared with control. However, the administration of P. ginseng attenuated these alterations.

Conclusion

The results of the present study suggest that supplementation with P. ginseng extract ameliorates testicular dysfunction associated with RF-EMR from cell phone by enhancement of antioxidant capacity.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data supporting the present study will be made available from the corresponding author on request.

References

  1. Adams JA, Galloway TS, Mondal D, Esteves SC, Mathews F. Effect of mobile telephones on sperm quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environ Int. 2014;70:106–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Adil M, Jeong BR. In vitro cultivation of Panax ginseng CA Meyer. Ind Crop Prod. 2018;122:239–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Aitken RJ, Gibb Z, Mitchell LA, Lambourne SR, Connaughton HS, De Iuliis GN. Sperm motility is lost in vitro as a consequence of mitochondrial free radical production and the generation of electrophilic aldehydes but can be significantly rescued by the presence of nucleophilic thiols. Biol Reprod. 2012;87(5):110–1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Balci M, Namuslu M, Devrim E, Durak İ. Effects of computer monitor-emitted radiation on oxidant/antioxidant balance in cornea and lens from rats. Molecular Vision. 2009;15:2521.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Casey PJ, Hillman RB, Robertson KR, Yudin AI, Liu IK, Drobnis EZ. Validation of an acrosomal stain for equine sperm that differentiates between living and dead sperm. J Androl. 1993;14(4):289–97.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chen M, Cai H, Yang JL, Lu CL, Liu T, Yang W, et al. Effect of heat stress on expression of junction-associated molecules and upstream factors androgen receptor and Wilms’ tumor 1 in monkey sertoli cells. Endocrinology. 2008;149(10):4871–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. De Freitas ATA, Pinho CF, de Aquino AM, Fernandes AAH, Domeniconi RF, Justulin LA, Scarano WR. Panax ginseng methabolit (GIM-1) prevents oxidative stress and apoptosis in human Sertoli cells exposed to monobutyl-phthalate (MBP). Reprod Toxicol. 2019;86:68–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. De Iuliis GN, Newey RJ, King BV, Aitken RJ. Mobile phone radiation induces reactive oxygen species production and DNA damage in human spermatozoa in vitro. PloS One. 2009;4(7):e6446.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Deloitte LLP. There’s no place like phone: global mobile consumer surve 2016. London, UK: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL); 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  10. De Souza LR, Jenkins AL, Jovanovski E, Rahelic D, Vuksan V. Ethanol extraction preparation of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) and Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer): differential effects on postprandial insulinemia in healthy individuals. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;159:55–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Du Sert NP, Ahluwalia A, Alam S, Avey MT, Baker M, Browne WJ, et al. Reporting animal research: explanation and elaboration for the ARRIVE guidelines 2.0. PLoS Biol. 2020;18(7):e3000411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Duan W, Liu C, Wu H, Chen C, Zhang T, Gao P, et al. Effects of exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields on spermatogenesis in adult rats. Bioelectromagnetics. 2014;35(1):58–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ekpuk OW, Udofia K, Akaninyene OB. Electromagnetic Field Levels Associated with Selected Mobile Phones. J Int Environ Appl Sci. 2020;15(2):62–7.

    Google Scholar 

  14. El-Bediwi A, El-Kott AF, Saad M, Eid E. Effects of electromagnetic radiation produced by mobile phone on some visceral organs of rat. J Med Sci. 2011;11(6):256–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Eskandari M, Ghalyanchi Langeroudi A, Zeighami H, Rostami A, Kazemi M, Eyni H, Shokri S. Co-administration of ginseng and ciprofloxacin ameliorates epididymo-orchitis induced alterations in sperm quality and spermatogenic cells apoptosis following infection in rats. Andrologia. 2017;49(3):e12621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Ezz HA, Khadrawy YA, Ahmed NA, Radwan NM, Bakry ME. The effect of pulsed electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone on the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in four different areas of rat brain. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013;17(13):1782–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Falcioni L, Bua L, Tibaldi E, Lauriola M, De Angelis L, Gnudi F, et al. Report of final results regarding brain and heart tumors in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed from prenatal life until natural death to mobile phone radiofrequency field representative of a 1.8 GHz GSM base station environmental emission. Environ Res. 2018;165:496–503.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Gautam R, Singh KV, Nirala J, Murmu NN, Meena R, Rajamani P. Oxidative stress-mediated alterations on sperm parameters in male Wistar rats exposed to 3G mobile phone radiation. Andrologia. 2019;51(3):e13201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Ghanbari M, Mortazavi SB, Khavanin A, Khazaei M. The effects of cell phone waves (900 MHz-GSM band) on sperm parameters and total antioxidant capacity in rats. Int J Fertil Steril. 2013;7(1):21.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Gorpinchenko I, Nikitin O, Banyra O, Shulyak A. The influence of direct mobile phone radiation on sperm quality. Cen Eur J Urol. 2014;67(1):65.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hamada JA, Singh A, Agarwal A. Cell phones and their impact on male fertility: fact or fiction. Open Reprod Sci J. 2011;3(1):125–37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hasan I, Jahan MR, Islam MN, Islam MR. Effect of 2400 MHz mobile phone radiation exposure on the behavior and hippocampus morphology in Swiss mouse model. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2022;29(1):102–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hassanzadeh-Taheri M, Khalili MA, Hosseininejad Mohebati A, Zardast M, Hosseini M, Palmerini MG, Doostabadi MR. The detrimental effect of cell phone radiation on sperm biological characteristics in normozoospermic. Andrologia. 2022;54(1):e14257.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Hong B, Ji YH, Hong JH, Nam KY, Ahn TY. A double-blind crossover study evaluating the efficacy of Korean red ginseng in patients with erectile dysfunction: a preliminary report. J Urol. 2002;168(5):2070–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Houston BJ, Nixon B, King BV, De Iuliis GN, Aitken RJ. The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on sperm function. Reproduction. 2016;152(6):R263–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kesari KK, Kumar S, Behari J. Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic wave exposure from cellular phones on the reproductive pattern in male Wistar rats. Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2011;164:546–59.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kim JH, Lee JK, Kim HG, Kim KB, Kim HR. Possible effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on central nerve system. Biomol Ther. 2019;27(3):265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Kopalli SR, Cha KM, Ryu JH, Lee SH, Jeong MS, Hwang SY, et al. Korean red ginseng improves testicular ineffectiveness in aging rats by modulating spermatogenesis-related molecules. Exp Gerontol. 2017;90:26–33.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Lee BM, Lee SK, Kim HS. Inhibition of oxidative DNA damage, 8-OHdG, and carbonyl contents in smokers treated with antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, β-carotene and red ginseng). Cancer Lett. 1998;132(1-2):219–27.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Lee SH, Choi KH, Cha KM, Hwang SY, Park UK, Jeong MS, et al. Protective effects of Korean red ginseng against sub-acute immobilization stress-induced testicular damage in experimental rats. J Ginseng Res. 2019;43(1):125–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Lee HW, Lee MS, Kim TH, Alraek T, Zaslawski C, Kim JW, Moon DG. Ginseng for erectile dysfunction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;4:CD012654. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012654.pub2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Li R, Ma M, Li L, Zhao L, Zhang T, Gao X, et al. The protective effect of autophagy on DNA damage in mouse spermatocyte-derived cells exposed to 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Cell Physiol Biochem. 2018;48(1):29–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Linjawi SA. Evaluation of the protective effect of Panax ginseng nanoparticles against nicotine-induced reproductive disorders in male rats. J Pharm Sci Rev Res. 2015;32(1):38–45.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Maregu N. Long term exposure of mobile phone radiation and human health. J Inf Eng Appl. 2016;6(8):22–30.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Morshed MN, Ahn JC, Mathiyalagan R, Rupa EJ, Akter R, Karim MR, et al. Antioxidant activity of Panax ginseng to regulate ROS in various chronic diseases. Appl Sci. 2023;13(5):2893.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Narayanan SN, Kumar RS, Potu BK, Nayak S, Mailankot M. Spatial memory perfomance of wistar rats exposed to mobile phone. Clinics. 2009;64:231–4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Narayanan SN, Lukose ST, Arun G, Mohapatra N, Pamala J, Concessao PL, et al. Modulatory effect of 900 MHz radiation on biochemical and reproductive parameters in rats. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2018;119(9):581–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Oh JJ, Byun SS, Lee SE, Choe G, Hong SK. Effect of electromagnetic waves from mobile phones on spermatogenesis in the era of 4G-LTE. BioMed Res Int. 2018;2018

  39. Olaniyi KS, Amusa OA, Oniyide AA, Ajadi IO, Akinnagbe NT, Babatunde SS. Protective role of glutamine against cadmium-induced testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats: involvement of G6PD activity. Life Sci. 2020;242:117250.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Oyewopo AO, Olaniyi SK, Oyewopo CI, Jimoh AT. Radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation from cell phone causes defective testicular function in male Wistar rats. Andrologia. 2017;49(10):e12772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Oyewopo AO, Olaniyi SK. Mistletoe leaf extract ameliorates cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in male Wistar rats. Uniosun J Sci. 2017;2(2):151–6.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Oyewopo AO, Saalu LC, Osinubi AA, Omotoso GO, Adefolaju GA. The attenuating effect of zinc on propoxur-induced oxidative stress, impaired spermatogenesis and deranged steroidogenesis in wistar rat. Int Scholar J. 2010;2(7):001–7.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Pandey N, Giri S. Melatonin attenuates radiofrequency radiation (900 MHz)-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in germ cells of male Swiss albino mice. Toxicol Indust Health. 2018;34(5):315–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Park SK, Hyun SH, In G, Park CK, Kwak YS, Jang YJ, et al. The antioxidant activities of Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) and ginsenosides: a systemic review through in vivo and clinical trials. J Ginseng Res. 2021;45(1):41–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Ratan ZA, Parrish AM, Alotaibi MS, Hosseinzadeh H. Prevalence of smartphone addiction and its association with sociodemographic, physical and mental well-being: a cross-sectional study among the young adults of Bangladesh. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(24):16583.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Redmayne M, Smith E, Abramson MJ. Adolescent in-school cellphone habits: a census of rules, survey of their effectiveness, and fertility implications. Reprod Toxicol. 2011;32(3):354–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Roberts J, Yaya L, Manolis C. The invisible addiction: cell-phone activities and addiction among male and female college students. J Behav Addict. 2014;3(4):254–65.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  48. Rozgonjuk D, Kattago M, Täht K. Social media use in lectures mediates the relationship between procrastination and problematic smartphone use. Comput Hum Behav. 2018;89:191–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Saba E, Jeon BR, Jeong DH, Lee K, Goo YK, Kim SH, et al. Black ginseng extract ameliorates hypercholesterolemia in rats. J Ginseng Res. 2016;40(2):160–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Salvati G, Genovesi G, Marcellini L, Paolini P, De Nuccio I, Pepe M, Re M. Effects of Panax ginseng CA Meyer saponins on male fertility. Panminerva Med. 1996;38(4):249–54.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Sanad NH, Abbas HR, Yaseen AA, Habeeb IA, Alsalim HA. Hormonal, histological, and comparative study of the effect of pure ginseng on testicular function in the breeding/non-breeding season of rams in Basrah. Arch Razi Inst. 2021;76(5):1519–35.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Sarookhani MR, Rezaei MA, Safari A, Zaroushani V, Ziaeiha M. The influence of 950 MHz magnetic field (mobile phone radiation) on sex organ and adrenal functions of male rabbits. Afr J Biomed Res. 2011;5(2):65–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Saygin M, Asci H, Ozmen O, Cankara FN, Dincoglu D, Ilhan I. Impact of 2.45 GHz microwave radiation on the testicular inflammatory pathway biomarkers in young rats: the role of gallic acid. Environ Toxicol. 2016;31(12):1771–84.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Seed J, Chapin RE, Clegg ED, Dostal LA, Foote RH, Hurtt ME, et al. Methods for assessing sperm motility, morphology, and counts in the rat, rabbit, and dog: a consensus report. Reprod Toxicol. 1996;10(3):237–44.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Seishima M, Oyama Z, Oda M. Cellular phone dermatitis with chromate allergy. Dermatology. 2003;207(1):48–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Sepehrimanesh M, Saeb M, Nazifi S, Kazemipour N, Jelodar G, Saeb S. Impact of 900 MHz electromagnetic field exposure on main male reproductive hormone levels: a Rattus norvegicus model. Int J Biometeorol. 2014;58:1657–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Shokri S, Soltani A, Kazemi M, Sardari D, Mofrad FB. Effects of Wi-Fi (2.45 GHz) exposure on apoptosis, sperm parameters and testicular histomorphometry in rats: a time course study. Cell J. 2015;17(2):322.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  58. Sohn SY, Rees P, Wildridge B, Kalk NJ, Carter B. Prevalence of problematic smartphone usage and associated mental health outcomes amongst children and young people: a systematic review, meta-analysis and GRADE of the evidence. BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Stefanatos R, Sanz A. The role of mitochondrial ROS in the aging brain. FEBS Lett. 2018;592(5):743–58.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Volkow ND, Tomasi D, Wang GJ, Vaska P, Fowler JS, Telang F, et al. Effects of cell phone radiofrequency signal exposure on brain glucose metabolism. JAMA. 2011;305(8):808–13.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Wang L, Hao J, Hu J, Pu J, Lü Z, Zhao L, et al. Protective effects of ginsenosides against bisphenol a-induced cytotoxicity in 15 P-1 sertoli cells via extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signalling and antioxidant mechanisms. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2012;111(1):42–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Won YJ, Kim BK, Shin YK, Jung SH, Yoo SK, Hwang SY, Sung JH, Kim SK. Pectinase-treated Panax ginseng extract (GINST) rescues testicular dysfunction in aged rats via redox-modulating proteins. Exp Gerontol. 2014;53:57–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Ying Z, Awais M, Akter R, Xu F, Baik S, Jung D, et al. Discrimination of Panax ginseng from counterfeits using single nucleotide polymorphism: a focused review. Front Plant Sci. 2022;13:903306.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, 1515, P.M.B, Nigeria

    Adeoye O. Oyewopo

  2. Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Babcock University Ilishan Remo, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, 121003, Nigeria

    Olabimpe C. Badejogbin

  3. Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Old, Oyo/ Ilorin Rd, 210214, Ogbomosho, Nigeria

    Isaac O. Ajadi

  4. Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, M8C4+9R5, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti, 362101, Nigeria

    Ayodeji Aturamu, Ikponmwosa V. Ebuwa, Stephanie E. Areloegbe & Kehinde S. Olaniyi

  5. Department of Chemical pathology, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Old, Oyo/ Ilorin Rd, 210214, Ogbomosho, Nigeria

    Mary B. Ajadi

  6. Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, M8C4+9R5, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti, 362101, Nigeria

    Ibidayo A. Alebiosu

Authors
  1. Adeoye O. Oyewopo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olabimpe C. Badejogbin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Isaac O. Ajadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ayodeji Aturamu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mary B. Ajadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ikponmwosa V. Ebuwa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ibidayo A. Alebiosu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Stephanie E. Areloegbe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Kehinde S. Olaniyi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

AOO and KSO conceived, designed, and conducted the experiment. AOO, OCB, SEA, and KSO analyzed and interpreted the data. AOO, IOA, AA, MBA, IVE, IAA, and KSO contributed reagents for the study. OCB, SEA, and KSO drafted the manuscript and all the authors read, revised, and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kehinde S. Olaniyi.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The investigation was conducted in adherence to the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the study protocol was approved by the University Ethical Review Committee (UERC), University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria with the approval number UERC/ASN/2021/1067. Consent to participate is not applicable.

Consent for publication

All the authors participated and agreed to the submission.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Oyewopo, A.O., Badejogbin, O.C., Ajadi, I.O. et al. Panax ginseng supplementation protects against testicular damage induced by radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation from cell phone. Nutrire 48, 47 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41110-023-00234-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41110-023-00234-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation