Can Panax Ginseng Aqueous Extract Improve Chilled and Cryopreserved Bull Spermatozoa?

Abstract

This study was to evaluate the influence of Panax ginseng aqueous extract on chilled and frozen-thawed bull sperm quality. Samples of semen were acquired from four bulls through the use of an electro-ejaculator. Extension of the semen was done with tris-egg yolk diluent which was augmented with 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg/mL Panax ginseng aqueous extract. Diluted chilled portions of the semen were chilled for 6 days at 5 ̊C whereas the frozen semen was cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Results revealed that in chilled and frozen-thawed semen, the control group, T1 and T2 recorded higher percentages in terms of sperm motility and viability in all three groups evaluated compared to others, while the high dose of Panax ginseng aqueous extract in T6 and T5 recorded the lowest percentage. Moreover, the values of sperm morphology for chilled and frozen-thawed semen were not significant among the groups. The results of chromatin stability of the present study showed that T2 and control were higher than for other groups. In conclusion, the low dosage groups (T1, T2 and T3) which were received (0.25 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL, respectively) from Panax ginseng aqueous extract were not significant as compared with the control group while high-dosage groups (T4, T5 and T6) which were received (2.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL and 7.5 mg/mL, respectively) from Panax ginseng aqueous extract were highly decreased spermatozoa characteristics.

Supplementation of Freezing Medium with Ginseng Improves Rooster Sperm Quality and Fertility Relative to Free Radicals and Antioxidant Enzymes

“…However, the antioxidant activity of ginseng in cryopreserved semen was not dose-dependent. The present study found that supplementing ginseng in a freezing extender (0.75 and 1 mg/mL) did not seem beneficial for sperm quality, which was consistent with previous studies that determined that high levels of ginseng supplementation between 1.0 and 7.5 mg/mL in chilled semen and cryopreservation of bull semen hurt semen quality [ 24 ]. Increasing antioxidant concentrations may result in hypertonic conditions, causing the dehydration of sperm cells [ 39 ].…”

“…The optimal concentration of ginseng supplemented in the freezing extender for post-thaw rooster semen quality was determined. Based on a previous report on boar semen [ 23 ] and bull semen [ 24 ], the concentration of ginseng was examined at 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 mg/mL. The ginseng powder was weighed at 0,0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 mg/mL, then was dissolved in a Schramm extender [ 26 ] by stirring for 1 min (using a vortex mixer) and incubated overnight at room temperature (28–30 °C) before being filtered with a sterile syringe filter of 0.22 µm to remove any particulates from the extender solution.…”

“…Similarly, the result of ginseng treatment on enhancing motility and decreasing ROS was reported in boar semen cryopreservation [ 23 ]. Meanwhile, ginseng supplementation did not improve bull semen preservation [ 24 ].…”