title: Effects of Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer saponins on male fertility.
abstract: Sixty-six patients have been treated with Panax Ginseng C.A. Meyer extract, of whom 30 oligoastenospermic sine causa (group A), 16 oligoastenospermic with idiopathic varicocele (group B). Twenty age-matched volunteers were used as controls (group C). Use of Panax Ginseng extract showed an increase in spermatozoa number/ml and progressive oscillating motility, an increase in plasma total and free testosterone, DHT, FSH and LH levels, but a decrease in mean PRL. It is suggested that ginsenosides may have an effect at different levels of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis.
authors.affiliation: V Clinica Medica, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Genovesi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marcellini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paolini
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Nuccio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pepe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Re
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012503:Saponins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins