Sutyarso¹, Muhartono², Susianti³, Hendri Busman¹, Mohammad Kanedi^1,

Ginger is suggested as an antioxidant, has androgenic as well as hypoglycemic effect, whereas zinc claimed as fertility supplement. However, scientific study on the effects of ginger along with zinc in combination is still very limited. Current study aims to investigate any possible effect of ginger extract combined with zinc on testicular function of male albino rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats weighing180-200g and aged 10-12 weeks were randomly grouped into four consisted of six rats. Group 1 treated with distilled water (control); group 2, 3 and 4 are the rats given 500 mg/kg of ginger extract plus consecutively of 0 mg/kg; 0.5 mg/kg and 1 mg kg zinc sulfate. The testicular function variables measured were testosterone levels, sperm concentration, sperm quality, and spermatogenic cell counts. The results showed that serum testosterone levels, sperm count, percentage of sperm viability and motility was higher in the mice given a combination of ginger extract and zinc compared with controls (P<0.01). Conversely the percentage of abnormal sperm morphology was decreased (P<0.01). Moreover, rats group receiving oral combination of ginger extract and zinc significantly showed an increased in the pre leptotene and pachytene spermatocytes, and spermatids (P<0.01), but showed no significant difference in the spermatogonia cell counts (P>0.05). In conclusion, water extract of red ginger combined with zinc, administered orally potentially enhance testicular function including steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in male rats.

ginger, zinc, spermatogenesis, testosterone