DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2018.v06i10.007

Pages: 669-675

Infertility is one of the major health problems, approximately 30% of infertilities are due to a male gene. Zingiber officinale has been reported to be an important antioxidant. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Zingiber officinale on male reproductive functions and study the mechanisms underlying these effects. The experiment was planned to examine the effects of Zingiber officinale on semen characteristics, testosterone levels, testicular lipid peroxidation, testicular antioxidants and histological study in male New-Zealand white rabbits for 12 work weeks. Results obtained indicated that Zingiber officinale significantly increased in ejaculate volume (EV), sperm concentration (SC), total sperm output (TSO), semen initial fructose (IF), percentage motile of sperm (SM), total motile sperm per ejaculate (TMS), packed sperm volume (PSV), total functional sperm fraction (TFSF) and seminal plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). Likewise, testosterone levels and relative weights of the testes were increased. Body weight, reaction time (RT), glutathione s-transferase (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were decreased in seminal plasma of rabbits treated with Zingiber officinale compared to the control. Our results suggested that an extract of Zingiber officinale possesses pro-fertility properties in male rabbits which might be a product of both its potent antioxidant properties.