EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICAL ACTIVE SUBSTANCES TO THE SPERMATOZOA QUALITY

Abstract

The aim of this short review is to investigate the effects of biological active substances namely vitamin C and E, Quercetin, Tannic acid, Lycopene, Resveratrol, and Curcumin to viability and cryopreservation of spermatozoa; as well as the sensitivity of spermatozoa to reactive oxygen species and the strategies how to avoid oxidative stress (OS) by using naturally occurring antioxidants mentioned above. The oxidative stress, which has been associated with male infertility and many degenerative diseases, can be reduced by antioxidants via breaking the oxidative chain reactions. Lycopene is one the most highly efficient antioxidant and free radical scavenger and has protective effect on spermatozoa. Trans-Resveratrol also has positive effects on the production of spermatozoa. Consequently, one of the most prominent compounds “curcumin†which has widely been studied for its anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, antioxidant, wound healing and anti-cancer effects; as well as showed energy-promoting and protective effects on the testicular tissue and spermatogenesis.