Dietary supplementation of ginger and turmeric improves reproductive function in hypertensive male rats

Abstract

Ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae)] and turmeric [Curcuma longa Linn (Zingiberaceae)] rhizomes have been reportedly used in folk medicine for the treatment of hypertension. However, the prevention of its complication such as male infertility remains unexplored. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effects of ginger and turmeric rhizomes on some biomarkers of male reproductive function in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (n = 10): normotensive control rats; induced (L-NAME hypertensive) rats; hypertensive rats treated with atenolol (10 mg/kg/day); normotensive and hypertensive rats treated with 4% supplementation of turmeric or ginger, respectively. After 14 days of pre-treatment, the animals were induced with hypertension by oral administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg/day). The results revealed significant decrease in serum total testosterone and epididymal sperm progressive motility without affecting sperm viability in hypertensive rats. Moreover, increased oxidative stress in the testes and epididymides of hypertensive rats was evidenced by significant decrease in total and non-protein thiol levels, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity with concomitant increase in 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (DFCH) oxidation and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) production. Similarly, decreased testicular and epididymal NO level with concomitant elevation in arginase activity was observed in hypertensive rats. However, dietary supplementation with turmeric or ginger efficiently prevented these alterations in biomarkers of reproductive function in hypertensive rats. The inhibition of arginase activity and increase in NO and testosterone levels by both rhizomes could suggest possible mechanism of action for the prevention of male infertility in hypertension. Therefore, both rhizomes could be harnessed as functional foods to prevent hypertension-mediated male reproductive dysfunction.

Co-administration of caffeine and caffeic acid alters some key enzymes linked with reproductive function in male rats

“…Akinyemi et al. () reported an imbalance between antioxidant defence system and ROS production in the testes and epididymis of hypertensive male rats and concluded that this might be an indication of oxidative stress which can cause male infertility. The increase in total thiol and NPSH levels observed in this study may be due to the protective role of caffeic acid on the testicular androgenesis and spermatogenesis (Huang, Roby, & Pace, ).…”

6-Gingerol-rich fraction prevents disruption of histomorphometry and marker enzymes of testicular function in carbendazim-treated rats

“…; Salihu, Ajayi, Adedara, & Farombi, ; Sekiwa, Kubota, & Kobayashi, ). Experimental evidence indicated that ginger has androgenic property (Kamtchouing, Mbongue‐Fandio, Dimo, & Jatsa, ) and significantly improved reproductive function in male diabetic and hypertensive rats (Akinyemi et al., ; Shalaby & Hamowieh, ). 6‐Gingerol (1‐[4′‐hydroxy‐3′‐methyoxyphenyl]‐5‐hydroxy‐3‐decanone) is the main pungent phenolic component in ginger well reported to exhibit the various pharmacological properties observed in ginger rhizome (Ajayi, Adedara, & Farombi, ).…”

Ginger ameliorates reproductive toxicity of formaldehyde in male mice: Evidences for Bcl-2 and Bax

“…Reproductive system is negatively influenced by FA, so that it decreases sperm parameters including count, viability, motility, and morphology of sperms (6,7). Exposure to FA causes testicular toxicity by diminishing activity of antioxidant enzymes and increasing lipid peroxidation, therefore it induces oxidative stress in testes (8)(9)(10)(11)(12). FA also damages spermatogenetic cells and increases synthesis of Hsp70 and Bax gene expression in testis tissue (9,13).…”

“…Hence, it can be used to improve sperm quality (19). Root of dietary ginger considerably improves the activity of antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the reproductive system and also reduces the signs of cell damage in testis tissues (11,18). The present study conducts numerous sperm, hormonal, bio-chemical analysis and gene expression in order to evaluate the reproductive damages caused by exposure to FA and to investigate the ameliorative properties of coadministration of FA and Ginger in mice model.…”