Fertility Effects of Red Ginger Rhizome Extract (Zingiber officinale var. rubrum) on the Sperm Quality of Rats (Rattus norvegicus L.) Induced by Monosodium Glutamate
TL;DR
Red ginger extract significantly improved sperm quality impaired by MSG induction, with the greatest improvement observed at 1,000 mg/kg BW (P3), suggesting that red ginger may exert protective antioxidant effects against MSG-induced reproductive damage.
Abstract
Modern lifestyle changes have led to increased consumption of processed foods containing monosodium glutamate (MSG), which, at excessive doses, may induce oxidative stress and impair male reproductive function. This study investigated the fertility-related effects of red ginger rhizome extract (Zingiber officinale var. rubrum) on sperm quality in MSG-induced rats (Rattus norvegicus L.). The experimental study employed a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of four treatment groups with six replications: the control group received 1,600 mg MSG, while P1, P2, and P3 received red ginger extract at doses of 500, 750, and 1,000 mg/kg body weight (BW), respectively. MSG induction and extract administration were performed orally for 14 days, with the extract administered two hours after MSG exposure. On day 15, the rats were euthanized, and sperm quality parameters, including motility, viability, and morphology, were assessed. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a least significant difference (LSD) post hoc test at ? = 0.05. The results demonstrated that red ginger extract significantly improved sperm quality impaired by MSG induction, with the greatest improvement observed at 1,000 mg/kg BW (P3): motility reached 88.89%, viability 83.89%, and normal morphology 82.79%. These findings suggest that red ginger may exert protective antioxidant effects against MSG-induced reproductive damage. This study contributes to the exploration of red ginger as a potential herbal intervention for supporting male reproductive health.