Effect of glycyrrhiza extract on in vitro spemr activation of asthenospermic patients

Abstract EN

The objective of the present study was to investigate the possibility of using medicinal plants as Glycyrrhiza glabera(Gg) for in vitro activation of infertile human semen.

Several concentrations of Gg extract : 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg/ml suspended in Earle's balanced salt solution(EBSS) were used to investigate its effect on stimulation of sperm activity ,using simple layer technique for 30 minutes incubation at 37C°.Semen were collected from 120 asthenospermic infertility men.

Results after incubation for 30 minutes revealed that Gg added showed positive effect on most sperm parameters studied.

Best positive results were obtained using 1 mg/ml Gg with Earle’s balance salt solution (EBSS) on the following sperm function tests :increase sperm motility percent and grade activity of progressive forward movement associated with a decrease in leukocytes count and sperm abnormal morphology percentage.

Other Gg concentrations caused no significant changes in sperm motility and grade activity, however, they caused an increase in morphologically abnormal sperm percentage and leucocytic count.

These results were attributed to the effective of various components of Gg, especially the antioxidant substances, estrogenic and anti estrogenic substances together with various trace elements on certain sperm parameters.

Results of present study indicate that addition of Glycyrrhizae glabra to the semen of asthenospermic patients may improve sperm functions which may open the way for further studies to investigate the possibility of using it in artificial insemination programs.