Effect of ginger and L-carnitine on some reproductive parameters of male rats

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of ginger and L-carnitine on the effect of ginger and L-carnitine on reproductive performance of male rats including semen evaluation [count, motility and viability of sperm], male sex hormones [Testosterone, FSH and LH] and testicular antioxidant system [reduced glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity]. The study was carried out on sixty mature male albino rats divided into four groups [fifteen rats each]. One group received physiological saline and kept as a control, while rats of the other three groups received ginger [100mg/kg/day], L-carnitine [150mg/kg/day] and combination of both ginger [100mg/kg/day] and L-carnitine [150mg/kg/day] respectively by stomach tube daily for one month. After the end of treatment period, rats were sacrificed with evaluation of semen and determination of antioxidant enzymes and sex hormones. Results showed that the three previous treatments improve sperm parameters, antioxidant enzymes and testosterone hormone with more favorable and pronounced effects in the group that received combination of both ginger and L-carnitine. Therefore, this study recommends that administration of a combination of ginger and L-carnitine may be beneficial for improving male sexual performance