• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.417-424
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• 2011

Ketoconazole (KET) is an antifungal drug with a broad spectrum of activity that also induces reproductive toxicity in humans and animals. KET inhibits C17-20 lyase which blocks the conversion of 17 ${\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione. The effect of Cuscutae semen(CS) extract against KET-induced testicular damage was evaluated in male rats. CS extract was administered orally (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 26 days. Three weeks after CS extract administration, KET was CS-administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 100 mg/kg once a day for 5 days. KET-induced reproductive toxicity was associated with clear reductions of the weights of testes and epididymides, sperm indices and serum testosterone levels. In addition, marked oxidative damage to testicular lipids and alterations of natural antioxidant enzymes were reported in association with KET toxicity. Most of the KET-induced effects were greatly decreased with the concomitant application of CS extract. This study suggests a protective role of Cuscutae semen extract that could be attributed to its antioxidant properties.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2023

Brassica oleracea var. italica (broccoli) is a type of cabbage that contains vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. Consequently, it is used as a potential nutraceutical source for improving human health by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Here, the effects of broccoli sprout extract (BSE) on the inflammatory response were investigated through lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory mouse models. First, we found that the BSE obviously reduce NO production in RAW 264.7 cells in response to LPS stimulation in in vitro study. Pretreatment with BSE administration improved sperm motility and testicular cell survivability in LPS-induced endotoxemic mice. Additionally, BSE treatment decreased the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-a, IL-1β, and IL-6, and COX-2 in testis of LPS-induced endotoxemic mice models. In conclusion, BSE could be a potential nutraceutical for preventing the excessive immune related infertility.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.198-204
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• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain the effects of adding green tea extract (GTE) to skim milk-egg yolk (SM-EY) extender on both the quality of post-thawed bull semen and the pregnancy rates of the recipient cows. Methods: Twelve ejaculates from four Simmental bulls, aged 3 to 5 years and weighing 900 to 950 kg, were diluted SM-EY extender, added with 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 mg GTE/100 mL extender and then frozen. After four weeks storage in liquid nitrogen, the sperm were thawed and evaluated for viability, motility, intact plasma membrane (IPM), and DNA fragmentation. Meanwhile, the estrus cycles of 48 recipient cows were synchronized by intramuscular administration of a single injection of 5 mg prostaglandin F2α. Estrus cows were divided into four equal groups and inseminated artificially 18 to 20 h after the onset of estrus by using semen from each extender group. Pregnancy was diagnosed by measuring serum progesterone levels at 21 days, followed by transrectal palpation 90 days after insemination. Results: The findings revealed that adding 0.1 mg of GTE/100 mL extender produced the highest percentages of sperm viability (70.67%±1.75%), motility (69.17%±1.47%), and IPM (69.23%±1.21%) and the lowest percentage of DNA fragmentation (3.00%±0.50%). The pregnancy diagnosis revealed that all cows (36/36) inseminated using frozen semen in GTE addition extender were pregnant (pregnancy rate 100%), whereas the pregnancy rate of the control group was 83.33% (10/12). Conclusion: It may be concluded that 0.1 mg GTE/100 mL extender yields the best quality of spermatozoa and that all variants doses of GTE in extender produce a higher pregnancy rate among recipient cows.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.171-177
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• 2003

Previously we have reported that administration of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG-WE) plays both preventive and therapeutic roles in testicular toxicity of guinea pigs exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Further study was carried out to verify the beneficial role of Korean red ginseng in TCDD-induced testicular toxicity with different animal species by different route of administration. Korean red ginseng crude saponin (KRG-CS) was prepared by Diaion HP-20 adsorption chromatography. One hundred twenty rats (Sprauge Dawley, 200${\pm}$10 g) were divided into 6 groups. The normal control group (NC) received vehicle (i.p.) and saline (p.o.). Predetermined dosage of TCDD (40 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg b.w., i.p.) was administered to single TCDD-treated (TT) and test (CS) groups. KRG-CS was admin-istered (p.o.) at daily doses of 5 (CS5), 10 (CS10),20 (CS2O) and/or 40 mg/kg b.w. (CS40) for 5 weeks, starting 1 week before the TCDD-exposure. Body weight gain, organ weights, and sperm quality were investigated. Decrease in body weight gain induced by TCDD was greatly attenuated by KRG-CS in a dose-dependent manner. Testicular weight, sperm head counts and ratio of sperm with progressive movement in TT group decreased significantly but those parameters were improved by the treatment of KRG-CS in a dose-dependent manner. This result led us to conclude that crude saponin might be the active ingredient of Korean red ginseng that attenuates the testicular toxicity induced by TCDD.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.335-354
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• 2001

This study was designed to investigate biological activity of antler extract added medical plants. The scavenging activity of DPPH radical was low scavenging activity at 0.01% concentration. But in the 0.05% and higher concentration, electron donating ability(EDA) is above 50% except Kongindangagam(48.5%) and significantly good above 70% in the 4 extracts. Superoxide dismutase(SOD)-like activity was 44.3% and 45.1% extracts of Ohjayenjongwhangami and M(market sample), Inhibition of xanthine oxidase were above 50% at 0.5% concentration except Boshingiwhangwhangami and from 62.4% to 84.9% in the 4 extracts. Inhibition rate of boshingiwhangwhangami was hasty increased from 33.5% to 77.5% at 1.0% concentration and others the higher concentration, the more increasing inhibition. Angiotension I-converting enzyme(ACE) inhibitory activities were high activity all of extracts. In the 0.5% concentration, ACE inhibition was above 80%. Especially 0.01% concentration of M was presented 81.8%. The study which conducted to investigate the effect of feeding antler extract group for 50 days on sperm concentration, Ca contents of serum, kidney and femur in rats was higher than that saline group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1724-1731
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• 2009

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of phyto-extract fermented mixture (MP119) on the male sexual functions. The MP119 was evaluated for anti-impotency and anti-hypertensive effects via ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) or PDE (phosphodiesterase) inhibition assay. $IC_{50}$ values of MP119 against ACE and PDE were 241.3${\pm}$35.5 ppm and 372.2${\pm}$33.8 ppm, respectively. To investigate the effect of testosterone expression by MP119, we performed cell media test using mouse Leydig-derived TM3 cells. Production of testosterone in TM3 cell was increased by MP119. Also, NO (nitric oxide) production of HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cell) was increased when MP119 was added to the cultures. Forty male ICR mice were divided into 4 groups. MP119 was orally intubated for 7 days to group 1 and 3, and same volume of vehicle to group 2 and 4 as controls. After that, group 3 and 4 were intraperitoneally injected cadmium chloride at a single dose of 2 mg/kg. On the 8th experimental day, weights of testis, epididymis and seminal vesicle, number of sperm, concentrations of serum testosterone and cGMP were determined. The number of sperm, the concentrations of testosterone and cGMP were significantly increased in two experimental groups (group 1, 3). These results suggest that MP119 enhanced the sexual function of male mice, and could protect the sexual organs from the cadmium chloride as one of the endocrine disrupters.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.514-521
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• 2010

Epimedium koreanum nakai (EKN) has been used for treatment of reproductive disorders. In this study, we evaluated the effects of EKN water extract on the 2-bromopropane (2-BP) induced reproductive dysfunction. The daily sperm production (DSP), sperm counts and histological changes of reproductive organs were investigated after 4 weeks of EKN administration in 2-BP induced reproductive damaged rats. Although the weights of epididymis and seminal vesicle were increased dose-dependently, they were lower than control group. DSP of EKN-dosing groups were increased compared to control group. In EKN-dosing groups, the number of degenerative seminiferous tubules and the number of epididymal tubules showing epithelial cell vacuolation and decreased spermatozoa in the lumen were significantly (p < 0.01) decreased compared to control group dose-dependently. Significant (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) increases of the number of sertoli cells, spermatogonia, patchytene spermatocytes, round spermatids and elongated spermatids were observed in EKN-dosing groups compared control group. Consequently, based on the results, EKN water extract could treat 2-BP induced reproductive damages dramatically.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2009

This study was performed to evaluate repeated-dose oral toxicities of Chelidonium majus extract in Fischer 344/N rats. Chelidonium majus extract was administered orally to rats at dose levels of 0, 25, 74, 222, 666 and 2,000 mg/kg/day. Each group consisted of 10 rats of each gender. The Chelidonium majus extract was given once a day, 5 times a week, for 90 day repeatedly. This study was conducted in accordance with the Protocol of Korea National Toxicology Program (issued by National Institute of Toxicological Research) and The Standards of Toxicity Study for Medicinal Products (issued by Korea Food and Drug Administration). In the present study, There were no toxicologically significant changes in mortality, clinical signs, body weight gains, ophthalmoscopy, urine analysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weights, histopathology, estrus cycle and sperm examination of all animals treated with Chelidonium majus extract. These results suggest that the oral no observed adverse-effect level of the test item, Chelidonium majus extract, in rats is higher than 2,000 mg/kg/day in both genders. The target organs were not established.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2009

Objectives : Previously we reported that the roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae) increased sperm count and motility. also induced spermatogenesis via cAMP-responsive element modulator(CREM) activation in rat testes. In this study, for the first step of spermatogenesis in germ cell lines, the antioxidant activity of Panax ginseng were examined in mouse GC-1 spermatogonia cells. Methods : The extract was studied on diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, GC-1 cell viability by a modified MIT assay. H202-induced cytotoxicity by MIT assay and lipid peroxidation by malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. respectively. Results: The results showed that the extract scavenged DPPH radical with the IC50 being 0.631 mg/mi. The extract at concentrations of 5, and 10, 50, 100, 250 ${\mu}$g/mi increased GC-1 cell viability significantly(p < 0.05, and p < O.O1). Hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity (73.8%, p < O.O1) was blocked by the extract at concentrations of 50, and 100, 250, 500 ${\mu}$g/ml significantly (p < 0.05, and p < O.O1). The extract at concentrations of 10. and 50 ${\mu}$g/ml decreased the MDA formation on hydrogen peroxide-induced lipid peroxidation. Conclusions : In conclusion, the extract of Panax ginseng has potent antioxidant activity and increases the survival rate of GC-1 spg cells against $H_20_2$-induced cytotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.401-411
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• 2008

This study was performed to evaluate repeated-dose oral toxicities of Flos lonicerae extract in Fischer 344/n rats. Flos lonicerae was administered orally to rats at dose levels of 0, 37, 111, 333, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day. Each group consisted of 10 rats of each gender. The Flos lonicerae extract was given once a day, 5 times a week, for 90 day repeatedly. This study was conducted in accordance with the Protocol of Korea National Toxicology Program and The Standards of Toxicity Study for Medicinal Products. In the present study, there were no toxicologically significant changes in mortality, clinical signs, body weight gains, ophthalmoscopy, urine analysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weights, histopathology, estrus cycle and sperm examination of all animals treated with Flos lonicerae extract. These results suggest that the oral no observed adverse-effect level of the test item, Flos lonicerae extract, in rats is higher than 2,000 mg/kg/day in both genders. The target organs were not established.