Mitigating Action of Korean Red Ginseng Extract against Antidepressant Agent (Duloxetine)-Induced Oxidative Insult, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in Rat Male Reproductive System | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences | ||
| Volume 56, Issue 13, December 2025, Pages 255-272 PDF (2.08 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejvs.2025.371040.2730 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Esraa M. Fahmy1; Abdelhamid E. Abdelhamid2; Doaa A. Mansour3; Sara M. Baraka4; Reda Korany5; Asmaa A. Abdallah6; Aya A. Fahmy2; Reham H. Alattar7; Ahmed Abdou Said2 | ||
| 1Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt; | ||
| 2Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt | ||
| 3Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt; | ||
| 4Chemistry of Natural Compounds Department, National Research Centre, Giza 12622, Egypt | ||
| 5Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University | ||
| 6Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt | ||
| 7Pharmacy research fellow at General administration for medical affairs | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The long term use of antidepressant drugs is linked to several negative impacts on the liver, kidney, and reproductive system. Red ginseng (GE) is highly recognized as a rich saponins plant with valuable biological properties. From this point, the current investigation focused on the potential safeguarding properties of (GE) aqueous extract against the degenerative effects of duloxetine (Dulo, a well-known antidepressant drug) on the male reproductive system. In a male rat model, Dulo was given at 2 doses (2.7 and 5.4 mg/kg BW orally), while GE was concurrently orally gavaged at 100 mg/kg BW for 2 consecutive months. Assessments of semen quality, relative testes weight, serum sex hormones, testicular oxidant/antioxidant status, and histopathological and immuno-histochemical changes in both seminal vesicle and testes were utilized. Dulo administration dose-dependently (P < 0.05) was associated with a significant loss of sperm motility % and sperm cell concentration, with a marked drop in the live-to-dead sperm ratio, and a considerable % of sperm abnormalities. Furthermore, a significant decline (P < 0.01) in the relative testes weight, coupled with disturbances in serum sex hormones viz. total testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone, along with marked repression in the testicular antioxidant defence mechanism. Additionally, several structural changes and inflammatory-stimulated apoptosis reactions were noticed in the testes and seminal vesicles of rats treated with Dulo in a dose-dependent manner. All these alterations accompanied by Dulo administration at the 2 adopted doses were significantly (P < 0.01) ameliorated by GE administration through preserving semen quality and relative testes weight, balance of serum sex hormones, and alleviating oxidative stress in the testicular tissues. Moreover, GE significantly well-maintained the testicular and seminal vesicle structures, and dampened the over-expression of tumour necrosis factor α, and BAX, with up-regulating BCL2 expression in the testes and seminal vesicles (P < 0.05). It could be concluded that GE possesses considerable mitigating actions against the toxic impacts of Dulo on male gonads through exerting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, making it a target for future studies as an effective agent in preserving the male reproductive system. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Duloxetine; Ginseng extract; Testicular damage; Semen; Oxidation; Apoptosis; Rats | ||
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