Korean red ginseng attenuates doxorubicin-induced testicular dysfunction in rats by modulating inflammatory, oxidative, and autophagy responses

The effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG; Panax ginseng Meyer) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced testicular inflammation was investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with DOX (1 mg mL−1 kg−1 week−1; intra-peritoneally) for 8 weeks, and KRG water extract (EX1; 100 and EX2; 200 mg/kg/day; orally) was administered for 9 weeks starting one week before DOX exposure. The expression levels related to spermatogenesis, inflammatory and autophagy markers were evaluated using western blotting and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. DOX-induced a significant (p < .05) alteration in the expression of antioxidation spermatogenesis and sex hormone receptors genes when compared with control groups, which were attenuated with KRG-WE treatment significantly (p < .05 ∼ p < .01). KRG-WE also ameliorated the DOX-induced alteration in pro-inflammatory cytokines via the mitogen-activated protein kinases/nuclear factor kappa-B pathway and autophagy in the testes of rats. In conclusion, KRG might be used as a functional food for prevention of chemotherapy-induced testicular inflammation.