Thesis (M. Sc. (Medical Sciences)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / This study investigated the effect of rooibos tea on human sperm in vitro. Semen samples
from 50 healthy men and 50 patients were treated with aqueous extracts of fermented
rooibos (0 µg/ml, 0.10 µg/ml, 1.0 µg/ml, 10 µg/ml, 100 μg/ml) and unfermented rooibos (0
µg/ml, 0.15 µg/ml, 1.5 µg/ml, 15 µg/ml, 150 μg/ml) for one hour at 37ºC. Thereafter, sperm
parameters were analysed. Exposure to unfermented rooibos had no effect on sperm
motility, vitality and DNA fragmentation in both groups (P>0.05). However, this treatment
significantly increased the production of reactive oxygen species, thus influencing the
acrosome reaction, and demonstrated a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential
in the donor group (P<0.05). Treatment with fermented rooibos increased progressive
motility in the donor group (P<0.05) but had no effect on sperm vitality, reactive oxygen
species and the acrosome reaction in either group (P>0.05). A decrease in mitochondrial
membrane potential and DNA fragmentation was observed in the donor group and the
patient group (P<0.05). Rooibos tea maintains certain sperm functional parameters, and
this may positively affect fertility rate. / National Research Foundation (NRF)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/3835 |
| Date | January 2020 |
| Creators | Takalani, Ndivhuho Beauty |
| Contributors | Opuwari, C. S., Adefolaju, G. A., Henkel, R. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xv, 192 leaves |
| Relation |
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