Thymoquinone as a natural spermostatic substance in reproductive medicine: An experimental study

Investigation of the effects of thymoquinone (TQ) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the motility, viability, and chromatin status of sperm in normozoospermic semen samples

Objective

Adverse effects of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on sperm membrane and chromatin have been proven in many studies. Among the natural products proposed as an alternative for PVP, thymoquinone (TQ)-a major constituent of Nigella sativa plant- has been suggested as a potential natural spermostasis. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of TQ with PVP for sperms motility, survival, DNA denaturation, and DNA fragmentation in normozoospermic men (men with a normal or healthy sperm profile).

Methods

An experimental trial was carried out on 30 normozoospermic men of the Andrology Unit of (Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Isfahan, Iran). Each washed semen samples were divided into four fractions and was randomly treated with TQ (50 μg/ml), %5 PVP, and %10 PVP (M/V) which was compared to untreated fraction (control).

Results

There was a significant difference between the four groups in terms of motility, viability, DNA denaturation, and fragmentation (P <0.05). TQ caused sperm immobility, while 5% PVP and 10% PVP decreased (98 and 99%, respectively) sperm motility compared to control. TQ did not affect sperm viability compared to the control group, but PVP decreased it. Besides, TQ did not affect DNA denaturation and fragmentation, but PVP increased it.

Conclusion

TQ could be used as an alternative natural spermostasis with less adverse effects rather than PVP which causes more efficient immobilization and isolation of individual sperm cells.