Table 3 Animal experiments on the effect of red ginseng on men’s reproductive health

testes

epididymo-orchitis

KRG

Wistar rats

^a apoptotic of spermatogenic cells

^b sperm quality

[27, 28]

testes

aging

hydrogen-

rich KRG

C57BL/b inbred mice

^b sperm quality, spermatogenesis-related genes, serum testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone

[29]

testes

aging

KRG extract

SD rats

^b sperm quality, antioxidant enzymes, sex hormone receptors, genes related to spermatogenesis

^b Cyp11a1 gene expression in testes

^a aberrant increase in follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone

[30,31,32,33,34]

testes

exposed to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodiben-p-dioxin

KRG water extract

rats

^b survival time, sperm quality

[35, 36]

testes

exposed to busulfan

KRG extract

imprinting control region mice

^b testis weight, sperm quality, serum testosterone

[37]

testes

exposed to ethanol

KRG extract

C57BL/6J mice

^b sperm quality

^a aberrant decline of sex hormone

[38]

testes

exposed to zearalenone

KRG extract

SD rats

^a apoptotic cells in seminiferous tubules and expression of Fas and Fas-L

[39]

testes

toxicity of medicine

a formula include KRG, angelica gigas and deer antlers

specific pathogen-free SD rats

No related changes in parameters for fertility development

[40]

testes

testicular tissue injury after torsion and detorsion

KRG

SD rats

^b testis weight

^a reactive oxygen species, superoxide, and histological damage

[41]

testes

exposed to heat stress

KRG3-enriched KRG extract

SD rats

^b sperm quality, antioxidant enzymes, sex hormone receptors, genes related to spermatogenesis

^a inflammatory cytokines

[42]

testes

exposed to doxorubicin

KRG water extract

SD rats

^b antioxidant enzymes, sex hormone receptors, genes related to spermatogenesisa

^a inflammatory cytokines

[43, 44]

testes

sub-acute immobilization stress

KRG water extract

SD rats

^b testis and epididymis weight, sperm quality, spermatogenesis-related proteins, sex hormone receptors, and antioxidant-related enzymes

[45]

testes

none

KRG

Swiss mice

^b weight of testes and seminal vesicle

^b interstitial cells in testes

[46]

penis

none

KRG extract

rabbits, rats

^b relaxation of smooth muscle in the cavernous, intracavernousal pressure

^a contraction induced by addition of CaCl₂

[47,48,49]

penis

none

9 oriental herbs (include KRG)

SD rats

^b the ratio of the intracavernous pressure to mean arterial pressure and the relaxation responses to acetylcholine

[50]

penis

diabetics

KRG

SD rats

^b intracavernous pressure, glutathione

^a malondialdehyde levels

[51]

penis

metabolic syndrome

KRG

Wistar rats

^b ratio of intracavernous pressure to mean arterial pressure

^b cyclic guanosine monophosphate in corpus cavernosum

[52]

penis

none

ginsenoside KRG1 of KRG

mice

^b incidence of copulatory behavior

[53]

prostate

benign prostatic hyperplasia

KRG oil

SD rats

^a prostate overweight, dihydrotestosterone and 5α-reductase

[54]

prostate

bacterial prostatitis and treated with ciprofloxacin

KRG

Wistar rats

^a apoptotic cells in prostate

[55]

prostate

prostate hyperplasia

KRG water extract

SD rats

^a activation of androgen receptor, prostate overgrowth and epithelial thickening

[56]

prostate

chronic prostatitis

KRG

Wistar rats

^a inflammatory cytokines

[13]