Abstract
This study examined the possibility of using a tissue cultured root of wildPanax ginseng (tcwPG) as a fertility agent. The effect of tcwPG on spermatogenesis was studied using male rats. The tcwPG crude powder was administered orally to 7-week-old rats over a 6-week period. The number of sperm in the testes and epididymides was significantly higher than the control. A histological examination did not reveal any morphological changes in the testes from the tcwPG powder treated rats. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the weights of the heart, spleen, liver, kidney, brain, testes and epididymides. Oligospermia was also induced by administering 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodaibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) to the rats in order to estimate the feasibility of using tcwPG as treatment for infertility caused by spermatogenic disorders. After exposing the rats to TCDD, the tcwPG saponin fraction treated rats showed some improvement in the body weight, sperm number and testis morphology. It was estimated that tcwPG had feasibility as a therapeutic agent on spermatogenic disorder.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brown, K. G., Fink, G., and Murray, M. A. F., Altered sexual development in male rats after estrogen administration during the neonatal period.J. Reprod. Ferti., 44, 25–42 (1975).
Chaffin, C. L., Peterson, R. E., and Hutz, R. J.,In utero and lactational exposure of female Holtzman rats to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodaibenzo-p-dioxin: Modulation of the estrogen signal.Biol. Reprod., 55, 62–67 (1996).
Court, W. A., Hendel, J. G., and Elmi, J., Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of ginsenosides of Panax quinquefolium.J. Chromatography A., 755, 11–17 (1996).
Fraga, C. G., Motchnik, P. A., and Shigenaga, M. K., Ascorbic acid protects against endogenous oxidative DNA damage in human sperm.Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 88, 11003–11006 (1991).
Furuya, T. and Yoshikaya, T., Saponin production by cultures of Panax ginseng transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes.Plant Cell Rep., 6, 449–453 (1987).
Geva, E., Bartoov, B., and Zabludovsky, N., The effect of antioxidant treatment on human spermatozoa and fertilization rate in anin vitro fertilization program.Fertil. Steril., 66, 430–434 (1996).
Hahn, E. J., Kim, Y. S., Yu, K. W., Jeong, C. S., and Paek, K. Y., Adventitious root cultures ofPanax ginseng C.A. Meyer and Ginsenoside production through large-scale bioreactor system.J. Plant. Biotechnol., 5, 1–6 (2003).
Hwang, S. Y., Yang, J. B., Wee, J. J., Kim, O. H., and Kim, S. K., Crude saponin from Korean red ginseng attenuates testicular toxicity of rats exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.J. Ginseng Res., 27, 171–177 (2003).
Johnson, L., Dickerson, R., Safe, S. H., Nyberg, C. L., Lewis, R. P., and Welsh, T. H., Reduced Leydig cell volume and function in adult rats exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodaibenzo-p-dioxin without a significant effect on spermatogenesis.Toxicology, 76, 103–118 (1992).
Lewin, A. and Lavon, H., The effect of coenzyme Q10 on sperm motility and function.Mo. Aspects Med., 18, Suppl: S213-S219 (1997).
Mably, T., Bjerke, D. L., Moore, R. W., Gendron-Fitzpatrick, A., and Peterson, R. E.,In utero and lactational exposure of male rats to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodaibenzo-p-dioxin. III. Effects on spermatogenesis and reproductive capability.Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 114, 118–126 (1992c).
Matsuda, H., Samukawa, K., and Kubo, M., Anti-inflammatory activity of ginsenoside Ro.Planta Med., 56, 19–23 (1990).
Matsuda, H., Samukawa, K., and Kubo, M., Anti-hepatic activity of ginsenoside Ro. Planta Med., 57, 523–526 (1991).
Mebus, C. A., Reddy, V. R., and Piper, W. N., Depression of rat testicular 17-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase after administration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro daibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD).Biochem. Pharmacol., 36, 727–731 (1987).
Ohnishi, Y., Tagaki, S., and Miura, T., Effect of ginseng radix on GLUT2 protein content in mouse liver in normal and epinephrine-induced hyperglycemic mice.Biol. Pharm. Bull., 19, 1238–1240 (1996).
Oshima, Y., Sato, K., and Hikino, H., Isolation and hypoglycemic activity of quinquefolans A, B, and C, glycans ofPanax quinquefolium roots.J. Nat. Prod., 50, 188–190 (1987).
Peterson, R. E., Theobald, H. M., and Kimmel, G. L., Developmental and reproductive toxicity of dioxins and related compounds: Cross-species comparisons.Crit. Rev. Toxicol., 23, 283–335 (1993).
Rolf, C., Cooper, T. G., Yeung, C. H., and Nieschlag, E., Antioxidant treatment of patients with asthenozoospermia or moderate oligoasthenozoospermia with high-dose vitamin C and vitamin E: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.Hum. Reprod., 14, 1028–1033 (1999).
Rune, G. M., de Souza, Ph., Krowkw, R., Merker, H. J., and Neubert, D., Morphological and histochemical pattern of response in rat testes after administration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodaibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD).Histol. Histopathol., 6, 459–467 (1991).
Salvati, G., Genovesi, G. and Marcellini, L., Effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer saponins on male fertility.Panmineva. Med., 38, 249–254 (1996).
Sandler, B. and Faragher, B., Treatment of oligospermia with vitamin B12.Infertility, 7, 133–138 (1984).
Scaglione, F., Cattaneo, G., Alessandria, M., and Cogo, R., Efficacy and safety of the standardised ginseng extract G115 for potentiating vaccination against the influenza syndrome and protection against the common cold.Drugs Exp. Clin. Res., 22, 65–72 (1996).
Schacter, A., Goldman, J. A., and Zukerman, Z., Treatment of oligospermia with the amino acid arginine.J. Urol., 110, 311–313 (1973).
Scott, R., MacPherson, A., and Yates, R. W. S., The effect of oral selenium supplementation on human sperm motility.Br. J. Urol., 82, 76–80 (1998).
Sommer, R. J., Ippolito, D. L., and Peterson, R. E.,In utero and lactational exposure of the male Holtzman rats to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodaibenzo-p-dioxin: Decreased epididymal and ejaculated sperm numbers without alterations in sperm transit rate.Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 140, 146–153 (1996).
Toth, G. P., Zenick, H., and Smith, M. K., Effects of epichlorohydrin on male and female reproduction in Long-Evans rats.Fundam. Appl. Toxicol., 13, 16–25 (1989).
Yun, T. K.,Panax ginseng—a non-organ-specific cancer preventive.Lancet Oncol., 2, 49–55 (2001).
Yun, T. K. and Choi, S. Y., Non-organ specific cancer prevention by ginseng: a prospective study in Korea.Int. J. Epidemiol., 27, 359–364 (1998).
Yves, C. and Bernard, P. C., Quantitative study of the cell population of the seminiferous tubles in immature rats.Am. J. Anat., 100, 241–260 (1969).
Zuin, M., Battezzati, P. M., Camisasca, M., Riebenfeld, D., and Podda, M., Effects of a preparation containing a standardised ginseng extract combined with trace elements and multi-vitamins against hepatotoxin-induced chronic liver disease in the elderly.J. Int. Med. Res., 15, 276–281 (1987).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Park, J.S., Hwang, S.Y., Lee, W.S. et al. The therapeutic effect of tissue cultured root of wildPanax ginseng C.A. Mayer on spermatogenetic disorder. Arch Pharm Res 29, 800–807 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02974082
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02974082