Effect of Ginger and L-Carnitine on the Reproductive Performance of Male Rats

In this study, we investigated the effects of ginger and L-carnitine on the reproductive performance of male rats with respect to semen parameters, male sex hormones and the testicular antioxidant system. A total of sixty mature male albino rats were divided into four groups of fifteen rats. The control group received saline, whereas the other three groups received ginger (100 mg kg-1 d- 1.), L-carnitine (150 mg kg-1 d-1.) or a combination of both ginger (100 mg kg-1 d-1.) and L-carnitine (150 mg kg-1 d-1.) via a stomach tube daily for one month. At the end of the treatment period, the rats were sacrificed, and their sperm characteristics (count, motility and viability), antioxidant enzyme factors levels (reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity) and sex hormone levels (testosterone, Follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were analysed. Our results showed that the three experimental treatments improved sperm parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity and testosterone hormone levels; the most pronounced positive effects were observed in the group that received a combination of both ginger and L-carnitine. Therefore, the administration of a combination of ginger and L-carnitine may be beneficial for improving male sexual performance.




References:
[1] Mascolo, N.; Jain, R.; Tain, S.C. and Capasso,F.J. (1989):
Ethnopharmacologic investigation of ginger(Zingiber officinale). J.
Ethano Pharmacol. 27(1-2),129-140.
[2] Kamtchouing, P.; Mbongue-Fandio, G.Y.; Dimo, T. and Jatsa, H.B. (
2002): Evaluation of androgenic activity of Zingiber officinale extract in
male rats. Asian J. Androl. 4, 299-301.
[3] Amin, A. and Hamza, A.A. (2006): Effects of Rosell and ginger on
cisplatin- induced reproductive toxicity in rats. Asian J.Androl. 8(5),
607-612.
[4] Foster, D.W. (2004): The role of thecarnitine system in human
metabolism. Ann N Y Acad.
[5] Izgut-Uysal, V.N.; Agac, A. and Derin, N. (2003): Effect of L-carnitine
on carrageenan- induced inflammation in aged rats. Gerontology. 49,
287-292.
[6] Ferrari, R.; Merli, E.; Cicchitelli, G.; Mele, D.; Fucili, A. and Ceconi, C.
(2004): Therapeutic effects of L-carnitine and propionyl-L-carnitine on
cardiovascular diseases: a review. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1033, 79-91.
[7] Dokmeci, D.; Akpolat, M.; Aydogdu, N.; Doganay, L. and Turan ,
F.N. (2005): L-carnitine inhibits ethanol-induced gastric mucosal
injury in rats. Pharmacol Rep. 57, 481-488.
[8] Onem, G.; Aral, E.; Enli, Y. et al. (2006): Neuroprotective effects of Lcarnitine
and vitamin E alone or in combination against ischemiareperfusion
injury in rats. J Surg Res. 131, 124-130.
[9] Garolla,A.; Maiorino, M.; Roverato, A.; Roveri, A.; Ursini, F. and
Foresta, C.(2005): Oral carnitine supplementation increases sperm
motility in asthenozoospermic men with normal sperm phospholipid
hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase levels. Fertil Ste. 83, 355-
361.
[10] Khaki, A.; Fathiazad, F.; Nouri, M.; Khaki, A.A.; ozanci, C.C.;
Ghafari-Novin, M. and Hamadeh, M . (2009): The Effects of Ginger on
Spermatogenesis and Sperm parameters of Rat. Iranian J. Reprod. Med.,
7: 7-12.
[11] Mohamed, N.E. and .Farghaly, A.A (2009): Evaluation of the Protective
Effect of L- Carnitine on Radiation Induced Free Oxygen Radicals and
Genotoxicity in Male Mice. Researcher. 1(6), 7-15.
[12] Maruyama, Y. (1987): Sex-steroid binding, plasma protein (SBP),
testosterone, estradiol and DHEA in prepuberty and puberty. Acta.
Endocrinol. 114: 60-67.
[13] Koracevic, D.; Koracevic, G. et al. (2001): Determination of TAC in
serum. J. Clin. Pathol. 54, 356 - 361.
[14] Nishikimi, M.; Roa, N.A. and Yogi, K. ( 1972 ): Determination of
superoxide dismutase in tissue homogenate. Biochem. Bioph. Res.
Common. 46, 849 - 854.
[15] Beutler, E.; Duron, O. and Kelly, M.B. (1963): Determination of
reduced glutathione in tissue homogenate. J. Lab Clin. Med. 61, 882.
[16] Aebi, H. (1984): Determination of catalase in tissue homogenate.
Methods Enzymol. 105, 121 - 126.
[17] Fossati, P.; Prencipe, L. and Berti, G. (1980): Determination of catalase
in tissue homogenate. Clin.Chem. 26, 227 - 231.
[18] WHO, (1999): WHO laboratory manual for the examination of human
semen and semen-cervical mucous interaction.4th ed. Cambridge
University press, New York.
[19] SAS (2004): SAS users Guide: Statistics version, SAS Institute Inc,
Cary, NC-USA.
[20] Bancroft, JD and Gamble, M. (2008): Theory and Practice of
Histological Techniques. Churchill Livingstone; 6th edition.
[21] Gurbuz, B.; Yalti, S.; Ficicioglu, C. and Zehir, K. (2003):
Relationship between semen quality and seminal plasma total carnitine
in infertile men. J Obstet Gynaecol.23,653-656.
[22] Lenzi, A.; Lombardo, F.; Sgro, P.; Salacone, P.; Caponnecchia,
L. and Dondero, F.(2003):Use of carnitine therapy in selected cases of
male factor infertility: a double blind cross over trial. Fertil Steril. 79,
292-300.
[23] Nassiri, M.; Khaki, A.; Ahmdi-Ashtiani, H.R; Rezazadeh, S.H.;
Rastgar, H. and Gharachurlu, S.H. (2009): Effects of Ginger on
Spermatogenesis in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rat. Journal of
Medicinal Plants. 8(31), 118-124.
[24] Zahedi, A.; Khaki, A.; Ahmadi-Ashtiani, H.R.; Rastegar, H. and
Rezazadeh, S.H. (2010):Zingiber officinale Protective Effects on
Gentamicin-s Toxicity on Sperm in Rats. Journal of Medicinal Plants. 9
(35), 93-98.
[25] Dalia,A.H.(2010): Effects of extract of ginger roots and cinnamon bark
on fertility of male diabetic rats. Journal of Amrican science. 6(10),940-
947
[26] Rajasekar,P.;Kaviarasan,S. and Anuradha,C.V.(2005):L carnitine
administration prevents oxidative stress in high fructose-fed insulin
resistance rats. Diabetol Coart. 34,21-28
[27] Zare, Z.; Eimani, H.; Mohammadi, M.; Mofid, M. and Dashtnavard, H.
(2010): The Effect of Orally Administered L-carnitine on Testis Tissue,
Sperm Parameters and Daily Sperm Production in Adult Mice. Yakhteh
Medical Journal. 11(4), 382-389.
[28] Kanter, M.; Topcu-Tarladacalisir, Y. and Parlar, S. (2010):
Antiapoptotic effect of L-carnitine on testicular irradiation in rats. J Mol
Hist. 41,121-128.
[29] Khaki, A.; Nouri, M.; Fathizad, F. and Khaki, A.(2008): Evaluation of
Zingiber Officinalis and Allium Cepa on Spermatogenesis in Rat.
Medical Journal of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. 30(2).
[30] Zhai, W.; Neuman, S.L.; Latour, M.A. and Hester, P.Y. (2007): The
Effect of Dietary L-Carnitine on Semen Traits of White Leghorns.
Poultry Science. 86, 2228-2235.
[31] Abd-Allah, A.R.A.; Helal, G.K.; Al-Yahya, A.A.; Aleisa, A.M.; Al-
Rejaie, S.S. and Al-Bakheet, S.A. (2009): Pro-inflammatory and
oxidative stress pathways which compromise sperm motility and
survival may be altered by L-carnitine . Oxidative Medicine and
Cellular Longevity. 2(2), 73-81.
[32] Yari, A.; Asadi, M.H.; Bahadoran, H.; Dashtnavard, H.; Imani, H. and
Naghii,M.R.(2010): Cadmium Toxicity in Spermatogenesis and
Protective Effects of L-Carnitine in Adult Male Rats. Biol Trace Elem
Res. 137, 216-225.
[33] Kaure, P.; Kaur, G. and Bansal, M.P. (2006): Tertiary butyl
hydroperoxide induced oxidative stress and male reproductive activity
in mice: Role of transcription factor NF kappaB and testicular
antioxidant enzymes. Reprod Toxicol. 22,479 84.
[34] Peltola, V.; Huhtaniemi, I. and Ahotupa, M. (1992): Antioxidant
enzyme activity in the maturing rat testis. J Androl . 13,450 5.
[35] Zini, A. and Schlegel, P.N. (1996): Catalase mRNA expression in the
male ratreproductive tract. J Androl. 17,473 80.
[36] Aitken, R.J. and Roman, S.D. (2008): Antioxidant systems and
oxidative stress in the testes. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular
Longevity. 1(1), 15-24.
[37] Vaisberg, C.N.; Jelezarsky, L.V. and Dishlianova, B. and Chaushev,
T.A.. (2005): Activity, substrate detection and immunolocalization of
glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in bovine reproductive organs and semen.
Theriogenology. 64, 416 28.
[38] Khaki, A.A. and Khaki, A. (2010): Antioxidant effect of ginger to
prevents lead-induced liver tissue apoptosis in rat. 4(14), 1492-1495.
[39] Saeid, J.M.; Shanoon, A.K. and Marbut, M.M (2011): Effects of
Zingiber officinale Aqueous Extract on Semen Characteristic and Some
Blood Plasma, Semen Plasma Parameters in the Broilers Breeder Male
International. Journal of Poultry Science. 10 (8), 629-633.
[40] Cao, Y.; Qu, H.J.; Li, P.; Wang, C.B.; Wang, L.X. and Han, Z.W.
(2011): Single dose administration of L-carnitine improves antioxidant
activities in healthy ssss13.
[41] Reznick, A.Z.; Kagan, V.E.; Ramsey, R.; Tsuchiya, M.; Khwaja, S.;
Serbinova, E.A. and Packer, L. (1992): Antiradical effects in Lpropionyl
carnitine , protection of the heart against ischemia-reperfusion
injury; the possible role of iron chelation. Arch Biochem Biophys. 296,
394-401. 34.
[42] Conti, P.; Reale, M.; Stuard, S. .; Spoto, G.; Picerno, F.; Ferrara, T.;
Placido, F.C.; Barbacane, R.C.; Albertazzia, A. and Errichi, B.M.
(1994): Reduced human lymphocytes blastogenesis and enhancement of
adenosine triphosphate by L-carnitine. Mol Cell Biochem. 131, 1-8.
[43] Fritz, K.B.; Rommerts, F.G.; Louis, B.G. and Dorrington, J.H. (1976):
Regulation by FSH and dibutyryl cyclic AMP of the formation of
androgen-binding protein in Sertoli cell-enriched cultures. J Reprod
Fertil. 46, 17-24.
[44] Singh,J.O. Neill, C. and Handelsman, D.J. (1995): Induction of
spermatogenesis by androgens in gonadotropin-deficient (hpg) mice.
Endocrinology. 136(12), 5311-5321.
[45] Tanis, D.; Orrell, D. and Long, Dr. W. (2010): The Effects of a Dietary
Supplement, Free Testâ„¢, on Serum Free and Total Testosterone Levels
in Weight-Trained Male Subjects. Applied Nutriceuticals.
[46] Manna, P.R.; Dyson, M.T. and Stocco, D.M. (2009): Regulation of the
steroidogenic acute regulatory protein gene expression:present and
future perspectives. Mol Hum Reprod. 15(6), 321-33.
[47] Dambrova, M.; Cirule, H.; Svalbe, B.; Zvejniece, L.; Pugovichs, O.;
Zorenko, T.; Kalvinsh, I.; Liepinsh, E. and Belozertseva, I. (2008):
Effect of inhibiting carnitine biosynthesis on male rat sexual
performance. Physiology & Behavior. 95, 341-347.