NCT02204826

Effects of Korean Red Ginseng on Semen Parameters in Male Infertility Patients: a Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Clinical Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (actual)
• Sponsor: Pusan National University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 25 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Korean Red ginseng (KRG) has long been applied to various diseases as a health-promoting herbal medicine in Korea. Many clinical studies of ginseng have been performed to elucidate its therapeutic characteristics. KRG has been shown to be effective in many diseases, such as cancers, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and sexual dysfunction. Several studies have indicated effects of ginseng on improving spermatogenesis in animals. The major mechanisms behind these effects were speculated to be anti-oxidant and anti-aging effects, as well as modulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis \[7 - 10\]. However, there have been no controlled human clinical trials to evaluate the effects of KRG on spermatogenesis in patients with male infertility. Only a small proportion of causes of male infertility are currently curable, including male hypogonadal disorders that can be cured by gonadotropic agents, and obstructive azoospermia that can be corrected by surgery. In addition, evidence-based medicine has revealed that most empirical treatments are ineffective. Similarly, the efficacies of carnitine, anti-estrogens, kallikrein, vitamins C and E, and glutathione have not been confirmed. Therefore, the investigators investigated the effects of KRG on semen parameters in male infertility patients. This is the first placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the therapeutic effects of KRG in male patients.

Conditions

• Male Infertility

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Korean Red Ginseng (KRG)	The KRG capsules were provided by Korean Ginseng Corporation (Daejeon, Korea). KRG powder was manufactured from roots of a 6-year-old red ginseng, Panax ginseng Meyer, harvested in Republic of Korea. KRG was made by steaming fresh ginseng at 90-100 ◦C for 3 h and then drying at 50-80 ◦C. KRG powder prepared from grinded red ginseng (KRG capsule : 500mg/capsule). KRG was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. KRG extract contained major ginsenoside-Rb1: 4.26mg/g, -Rb2: 1.62mg/g, -Rc: 1.80mg/g, -Rd: 0.29mg/g, -Re: 1.71mg/g, -Rf: 0.67mg/g, -Rg1: 2.61mg/g, -Rg2: 0.20mg/g, -Rg3: 0.13mg/g, and other minor ginsenosides. During the study period, three capsules were taken daily for 12 weeks.
PROCEDURE	Varicocelectomy	Surgical microscope-assisted varicocelectomy using the subinguinal approach was conducted by a single surgeon.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-04-01
• Primary completion: 2012-02-01
• Completion: 2013-12-01
• First posted: 2014-07-30
• Last updated: 2018-08-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: South Korea