Fermentation Filtrates of Rubus coreanus Relax the Corpus Cavernosum and Increase Sperm Count and Motility

A randomized, controlled study of treatment with ojayeonjonghwan for patients with late onset hypogonadism

Objectives: We investigate the effects of Ojayeonjonghwan (KH-204) in men with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) symptoms.Material and methods: Initial PSA, testosterone, lipid profile and questionnaires about LOH-related symptoms were checked. After 8 weeks of the treatment (control or KH-204), questionnaires and serological tests were repeated to evaluate the efficacy of the agent. The changes of variables in each group and the difference between two groups were compared.Results: A total of 78 men were enrolled, and randomly assigned to the control group (n = 39) or KH-204 group (n = 39). Baseline characteristics of both group are comparable. AMS total score of control and KH-204 group were both improved at 8 weeks (p = .010, <.001), and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (favorable in KH-204 group, p = .006). At 8 weeks, total IIEF score of control and KH-204 group were both improved, and there was no statistically significant difference in the degree of improvement between the two groups (p = .303). There was no statistically significant difference of laboratory findings, in intra-group changes and inter-group comparisons.Conclusions: KH-204 was found to be effective in all LOH symptoms without changing of laboratory results. KH-204 may be safely used for treatment of male with LOH-related symptoms.

Plants in the management of male infertility

This review attempts to collate existing data and provide the perspectives for future studies on the effects of plants on the male gonads. For many of these medicinal plants such as Lepidium meyenii, Rupus coreanus, Tribulus terrestres, Panax ginseng, Petasites japonicas, Apium graveolens, Eurycoma longifólia, Pedalium murex, Corchorus depressus, Mucuna pruriens, Astragalus membranaceus, Nigella sativa, Crataegus monogyna, Fagara tessmannii, Phaleria macrocarpa, Anacyclus pyrethrum, Cynomorium songaricum and Morinda officinalis, the mechanism of actions of their active principles and crude extracts has been shown in both laboratory animals, in vitro, and human studies, and includes their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, spermatogenesis-inducing, aphrodisiac, smooth muscle relaxing and androgenic properties. Several active chemical leads including glucosinolates, anthocyanins, protodioscin, ginsenosides, sesquiterpenes, phyto-oestrogens, quassinoids, diosgenin, thymoquinone, proanthocyanidins and bajijiasu isolated from these plants are known to have target effects on the testis, but efforts have been limited in their application at the clinical level. There still appear to be many more extracts of medicinal plants that have not been characterised to determine the phytochemicals unique to them that have target effects on the gonads. Further, collaborative efforts at isolating pro-drug candidates from medicinal plants for studies at the molecular, cellular and clinical level towards elucidating their mechanisms of action on the testes are therefore warranted in the light of the current male fertility crisis.

Effects of a soybean milk product on feto-neonatal development in rats

Since estrogenic pollutants and phytoestrogens can cause the disorder of the reproductive system, the effects of a soybean milk product (Vegemil® containing 162 ppm isoflavones) on the feto-neonatal development, including male reproductive function, were investigated. Pregnant rats were fed the soybean milk (5% or 100% in drinking water) from gestational day (GD) 6 to parturition or to post-natal day (PND) 56. Specifically, the rats were divided into 4 groups: the control group (drinking water), the GD5% group (5% soybean milk during only the GD period), the GD-PND5% group (5% soybean milk during the GD and PND periods), and the GD-PND100% group (100% soybean milk instead of water during the GD and PND periods). During the gestational, lactational, and developmental periods, the reproductive and developmental parameters of dams and offspring were observed. Feeding soybean milk did not affect the birth and physical development of both male and female offspring. At PND57, the weights of the testes and epididymides of F1 males significantly increased by feeding a high concentration of the soybean milk (GD-PND100%). In addition, feeding of the soybean milk during both the GD and PND periods (GD-PND5% and GD-PND100%) enhanced the sperm counts and motility. The results indicate that soybean milk is safe for embryos, fetuses, and offspring, and improves the post-generational development of male reproductive function.

Antifibrotic activity a fermentation filtrate of Ganoderma lucidum

The effects of a fermentation filtrate of Ganoderma lucidum (FGL) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatic fibrosis were investigated in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with FGL (20 or 100 mg/kg) for 33 days, and orally administered with CCl₄ (1.0 mL/kg; 2 mL/kg of 50% in corn oil) at 3-day intervals 1 h after FGL treatment. Body and liver weights, blood and histopathological findings in accordance with hydroxyproline concentrations were analyzed. Chronic exposure to CCl₄ reduced the body weight gain, but increased liver weights and fibrosis, resulting in 3.35-fold increase in hydroxyproline level. Although FGL did not significantly reduce the CCl₄-induced body and liver weight changes, it attenuated the increases in the hepatic fibrosis and hydroxyproline contents. Taken together, it is suggested that FGL might prevent hepatic fibrosis, and that FGL or its ingredient could be a potential candidate for the prevention of chronic hepatic disorders.

Antioxidative and aldose reductase-inhibitory effects of a fermentation filtrate of Rubus coreanus

Antioxidative and aldose reductase (AR)-inhibitory effects of a fermentation filtrate of Rubus coreanus (FRC) were investigated using corneal/retinal homogenate and lens cytosol, respectively. Rat corneal/retinal homogenate was treated with 50 µM FeCl₃ in the presence of FRC (3.2-100 µg/mL) for 30 min at 37℃, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was quantified as a lipid peroxidation parameter. FRC markedly suppressed the TBARS production in a concentration-dependent manner, leading to 50% (IC₅₀) and 100% (IC₁₀₀) inhibitory concentrations of 20 and 95 µg/mL, respectively, which was similar to the effect of butylated hydroxyanisole. Activity of AR from rat lens was assayed in the presence of FRC (1-31.6 µg/mL) at 25℃ using glyceraldehyde as a substrate. FRC inhibited lens AR by 50% (IC₅₀) and 90% (IC₉₀) at approximately 2 and 31.6 µg/mL, respectively, comparable to the effect of quercetin. The results indicate that ERC could be a promising candidate for the improvement of eye injury and visual dysfunction of dry eye and diabetic patients.