Sunday, February 26, 2006

Propolis Protects Human Spermatozoa from DNA Damage

Life Sciences, Volume 78, Issue 13 , 23 February 2006, Pages 1401-1406

Abstract: Many environmental, physiological and genetic factors have been implicated in defective sperm function, the most common cause of infertility. In addition, sperm preparation techniques such as centrifugation, used prior to in vitro fertilization, are associated with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an increase in the level of DNA damage.

Factors that can offer spermatozoa protection are, therefore, of great importance. This study was designed to examine in vitro the effect of a Chilean propolis ethanolic extract on human spermatozoa treated with benzo[a]pyrene and exogenous reactive oxygen species. . .

The propolis extract was shown to possess the capacity to protect sperm membrane from the deleterious action of oxidative attack, reducing TBARS formation and LDH release.

In summary, our results evidence that the protective effect exhibited by this natural compound in human spermatozoa is correlated, at least in part, to the antioxidant capacity of its active components, and suggest that propolis may have a role in protection against male infertility.

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