Effects of red ginseng and Lepidium meyenii (maca) diets on 2‐bromopropane‐exposed testicular damage and oxidative stress

The present study was carried out to observe the effect of red ginseng and maca diets on testicular toxicity and oxidative damages induced by 2‐bromopropane (2‐BP). Five‐week‐old male Sprague Dawley rats were treated subcutaneously with 2 ml/100g BW of 2‐BP (dissolved in olive oil at the same ratio) at intervals of 2 days for 21days. Animals were fed for 4 weeks with the following: 2‐BP‐untreated normal (N); 2‐BP‐treated (B); 2% maca (M); 2% red ginseng (R); 2‐BP‐treated M (BM); 2‐BP‐treated R (BR); 2‐BP‐treated 1% maca and 1% red ginseng (BMR). Decreases of the growth rate and the food efficiency ratio due to 2‐BP treatment were improved in the BMR group. The 2‐BP‐exposed rats fed either maca or the combined diet showed improved testicular weights. Testicular activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) in the B group was slightly elevated when compared to those of the control. However, treatment with the combined diet decreased XO activity. The maca diet decreased the elevated testicular activity of glutathione S‐transferase in the BM group. Treatment of 2‐BP in rats led to significant elevation of hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels. The combined diet produced maximum reduction of TBARS levels under the 2‐BP‐exposed conditions. In addition, dietary treatment of the B group with the combined diet slightly recovered glutathione levels to those similar in the N group. This study presents that the combined diet of maca and red ginseng may ameliorate 2‐BP‐exposured oxidative stress and testicular damage.