In vivo evidences of Curcuma longa on oxidative stress in STZ-induced diabetes on sperm parameters in male wistar rats

Several conditions such as chemotherapy and toxins can interfere with spermatogenesis and reduce sperm quality and production. In the case where natural antioxidant response cannot manage oxidative stress and free radical overload, oxidative damage occurs and this begins the genesis of many diseases of which diabetes is one of them. This has awakened the interest of researchers to the use of an alternative source of medicine and herbal medicine. Medicinal use of Curcuma longa dates back to ancient China and India; its constituents are stated to have anti-hepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory, stimulant, and antioxidant and used since ancient time as medicinal and nutritive origins knowing to possess androgenic activities and have well effect in diseases treatment in more countries world-wide. As an antioxidant Curcuma longa possible has a useful effect on spermatogenesis and sperm parameters. Wistar male rats (n=24) were allocated into six groups, positive control (n=4), diabetic control (n=4) and experimental groups (n=20), that subdivided into groups of 4 that received treatment of Curcuma longa rhizome powder with or without STZ-induced diabetes in the dosages (25 and 100mg/kg/day) for 21 consecutive days. In twenty-second day, the testes were removed and semen was collected from epididymis and prepared for analysis. The percentage of sperm viability and motility in the treatment groups increased mildly with a significance of: (p<0.05) in comparison to control group and with the diabetic group being critically lower than those in control group. This suggested that Curcuma longa may be promising in enhancing sperm health parameters.Keywords: Turmeric, oxidative stress, semen, STZ-induced diabetes, antioxidant