INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF ginseng ON CADMIUM-INDUCED TESTICULAR TOXICITY IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Cadmium (Cd), a pervasive environmental toxicant, has been widely implicated in male reproductive dysfunction due to its ability to induce oxidative stress, disrupt endocrine signaling, and impair testicular architecture. In recent years, herbal medicine have thrived in therapeutic usage, ginseng has been known to be a potent Korean herb. The protective role of ginseng is attributed to its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties, which counteract cadmium-induced oxidative stress and cellular damage. This study aimed to investigate the histopathological and functional effects of ginseng on cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar albino rats. Animal model was used for this study, twenty male rats were used and randomly divided into four groups: Group A (control), Group B (Cd-exposed), Group C (Cd + 200 mg/kg ginseng), and Group D (Cd + 400 mg/kg ginseng). Cadmium chloride was administered imtraperitoneally at 1 mg/kg, while ginseng was administered orally, all administration was for three weeks after 14 days acclimatization. Parameters assessed included body and testicular weight, sperm characteristics (count, motility, morphology), and histopathological changes in testicular tissue. Results demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in testicular weight, sperm count, and progressive motility in cadmium-exposed rats compared to controls (p < 0.05). Histological examination revealed degeneration and shrickening of seminiferous tubules, germ cell loss in Cd-treated groups. Co-administration of ginseng, particularly at 400 mg/kg, significantly ameliorated these effects, as evidenced by improved sperm parameters, restoration of testicular architecture. Putting together all data from this study, this study provides evidence that ginseng exerts a dose-dependent protective effect against cadmium-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats. These findings highlight its therapeutic
potential as a natural adjunct in mitigating heavy metal-associated reproductive dysfunction. Further study into optimal dosage for therapeutic usage is of great importance.