Preliminary Report on the Safety of a New Herbal Formula and Its Effect on Sperm Quality

Abstract

PurposeMale infertility is a serious problem, and its prevalence has been increasing. Therefore, we investigated the safety of a new herbal formula and its effects on sperm quality.Materials and MethodsAn in vitro cytotoxicity test in TM3 Leydig cells was performed to evaluate cell viability after administration of five types of herbs separately and of a new herbal formula containing these five. An in vivo test in male mice was performed to evaluate the influence of the new herbal formula on the reproductive organs and sperm quality. After the 8- and 28-day oral administration of the new herbal formula, the weights of the reproductive organs were measured and the sperm count and motility were evaluated.ResultsIn the in vitro cytotoxicity test, less than 80% cell viability at concentrations of 500 mg/L and 1,000 mg/L of Rubus coreanus Miquel and Cuscuta chinensis Lam was observed. However, more than 80% cell viability was observed at all the tested concentrations of the new herbal formula. After the 8- and 28-day oral administration, there were no considerable changes in body weight. The weights of the testes, epididymis, and seminal vesicles after the 8- and 28-day oral administration were similar to those of the control. The sperm count and activity were significantly improved compared with those of the control group at 8 and 28 days after 100, 200, and 400 mg of oral administration.ConclusionsThe safety of the new formula and its positive effect on the sperm quality were observed after the oral administration of the formula.

Semen Quality Improvement in a Man with Idiopathic Infertility Treated with Traditional Korean Medicine: A Case Report

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Recovery from the Two-generation Reproductive Toxicity in Sprague-Dawley Rats by Treatment with Decursin and Decursinol Angelate

“…Furthermore, A. gigas is known to exert antibacterial and antiamnestic effects as well to induce inhibitory effects against acetylcholinesterase, depression of cardiac contraction, and activation of protein kinase C [2,7,13,14,25]. Several herbs that were used in traditional medicine demonstrated antioxidant or free radical scavenging activities [8]. Further, some of the herbal supplements with antioxidant properties exhibited a beneficial effect on the sperm function.…”

“…Further, some of the herbal supplements with antioxidant properties exhibited a beneficial effect on the sperm function. These showed antioxidant activities in various diseases besides male infertility causing decreased sperm quality [8].…”

Testicular antioxidant mechanism of cultivated wild ginseng extracts

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