Onm-3: Ginseng and Male Reproductive Function

Background Ginseng is often referred to as the King of all herbs, and is found to be a promising agent to improve general well-being. Ginseng has also been reputed as an aphrodisiac, a disused to treat sexual dysfunction as well as to enhance sexual behavior. MaterialsAndMethods In this trial, thirty three adult male rats were divided into three groups. Experimental groups received gensing orally for 60 days in two different sub lethal doses; 100 mg/kg as high dose and 50 mg/kg as low dose, whereas the control group received distilled water. The rats were sacrificed on the 60th day, Blood was centrifuged and serum was stored for determined testosterone .the testes and seminal vesicles were collected and weighed. The testes excised, and processed for microscopic examination. The study was approved by the Experimental Ethics Committee on Animals Use of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. Results The administration of the ginseng result did not show any significant difference in the weight of the seminal vesicle, liver and kidney of the treated groups relative to the control (P≥0.05). On the other hand, the results showed a significant decrease in the body weight of both the low and high dose-receiving groups in comparison to the control group. The extract of this plant caused a decrease of the following in the two experimental groups, compared to the control group: sperm count, motility and normal morphology, pregnancy rate and diameter of seminiferous tubules. Also, distortion of morphology of the seminiferous tubules and arrest in spermatogenesis were observed in the experimental groups. Conclusion From the present study, we can conclude that ginseng acts as an anti-fertility agent.n.