Maryam Sharafichie - Biology Department, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University,
Ramin Hajikhani - Biology Department, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University,
Jalal Solati - Biology Department, Karaj branch, Islamic Azad University
Maryam Khosravi - Biology Department, Karaj branch, Islamic Azad University

Nowadays, herbal combinations are commonly used worldwide for treatment of reproductive problems. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of ginseng in combination with coenzyme Q10 to improve activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and spermatozoon quality in adult male NMRI mice. For two weeks, adult male NMRI mice were orally treated with mixture of ginseng (400 mg/kg) and coenzyme Q10 (300 mg/kg). After the treatment period, the sexual behaviours of the treated and control mice were evaluated using the anxiety and depression levels of receptive adult female mice, evaluated using the elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming test, respectively. After behavioural evaluations, serum and sperm samples were collected from each mouse. Serum testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were analysed using Elisa kits, and the sperm quality was evaluated with HFT computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) sperm analysing system. The results showed that treatment with the combination resulted in increased levels of LH and testosterone and reproductive behaviours (sniffing, following, mounting, and coupling) and a higher number of motile sperm in comparison with the water-treated control group. According to our results, the herbal combination affects the reproductive system in distinct levels from the brain to the testes and improves various aspects of reproduction.

Ginseng, Q10, Mice, Reproduction, Sperm