title: Effect of bajijiasu isolated from Morinda officinalis F. C. how on sexual function in male mice and its antioxidant protection of human sperm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the physiological aspects of human fertility have been seriously influenced by the interactions of genetic and environmental factors. Almost one in 20 males has been affected by male infertility, providing a great challenge and an opportunity to use natural compounds as alternatives to chemical drugs with comprehensive adverse effects. However, ample evidences are scanty to support the physiological mechanisms of natural compounds used to treat male infertility. In traditional Chinese medicine, Morinda officinalis F. C. How is widely used as a herb that invigorates the kidneys and supports yang, the original energy in the human body, to resist diseases and in treating male infertility. In this study, we evaluated whether bajijiasu isolated from the roots of M. officinalis F.C. How is a potential agent for the treatment of male infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, both normal and kidney-yang-deficient mice were administered bajijiasu orally at different concentrations. To determine the pharmacological mechanism of bajijiasu, we observed the sexual behavior and genital organ coefficients, determined their serum hormone levels, analyzed their sperm quality parameters, and examined histopathological sections from them. We also used enzymatic assays to determine the effects of bajijiasu on superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and malondialdehyde. Confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the changes in the DNA of H2O2-damaged human sperm after treatment with bajijiasu in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that bajijiasu enhanced the sexual behavior of both normal and kidney-yang-deficient mice. It also markedly increased the testosterone concentrations, reduced the levels of cortisol, improved the quality of the sperm, and counteracted the histopathological impairment induced by hydroxyurea in the kidney-yang-deficient mice. The enzymatic assay and Raman spectra showed that bajijiasu protects the DNA of sperm from damage by H2O2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bajijiasu is a potential androgen-like drug that modulates hormone levels to some extent without producing reproductive-organ lesions, enhances the sexual function of male mice, and protects the DNA of human sperm from H2O2 damage. Thus, bajijiasu is an active ingredient of M. officinalis F.C. How that improves the human reproductive capacity.
authors: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People׳s Republic of China.
authors: Ze-Qing
authors: ZQ
authors: Wu
authors: Guangdong Institute of Microbiology, Guangzhou 510070, People׳s Republic of China.
authors: Di-Ling
authors: DL
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Life Science, Huizhou University, Huizhou, Guangdong 516007, People׳s Republic of China.
authors: Fang-Hua
authors: FH
authors: Lin
authors: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People׳s Republic of China. Electronic address: linlitcm@126.com.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Lin
authors: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People׳s Republic of China.
authors: Ou
authors: O
authors: Shuai
authors: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People׳s Republic of China.
authors: Jin-Yu
authors: JY
authors: Wang
authors: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People׳s Republic of China.
authors: Long-Kai
authors: LK
authors: Qi
authors: College of Chinese Materia Medical, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People׳s Republic of China.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006918:Hydroxyurea; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D032066:Morinda; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004187:Disaccharides; C000588575:fructofuranosyl-(2-2)-fructofuranosyl; D013739:Testosterone; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D004247:DNA; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D006918:Hydroxyurea
keywords: Antioxidant protection; Bajijiasu; Eosin (CID: 11048); Estradiol Valerate (PubChem CID:13791); Hematoxylin (CID 10603); Human sperm; Hydrogen Peroxide (PubChem CID:784); Hydroxyurea (PubChem CID:3657); Male infertility; Malondialdehyde (PubChem CID:10964); Methyltestosterone (PubChem CID:6010); Nigrosin (CID: 70700181); Progesterone (PubChem CID: 5994); Sexual function; Superoxide Dismutase (PubChem CID:11963501)