White tea aqueous extract counteracts cumene hydroperoxide-induced oxidative damage in human sperm: a comparative study with L-ascorbic acid

Background: Oxidative stress (OS) damages sperm by overwhelming antioxidant defences with excess free radicals, damaging seminal parameters and contributing to male infertility. Antioxidants from Camellia sinensis (white tea) are known to scavenge excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby protecting seminal parameters. Measuring OS using oxidative stress markers after antioxidant treatment is crucial for determining the redox state in biological samples and establishing an effective dosage. Methods: This study investigated the effect of white tea aqueous (0.465, 4.65, 46.5, 465 µg/mL) extract on normozoospermic samples following the induction of OS. Oxidative stress was induced using sperm wash media supplemented with 100 µM of cumene hydroperoxide at 37 ◦C for 60–120 minutes on motility and viability, as well as for 60 minutes on oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and sperm-DNA-fragmentation (SDF) and acrosome reaction. Results: Cumene hydroperoxide-induced OS significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the integrity of the measured seminal parameters. The aqueous extract of white tea demonstrated protective effects on normozoospermic samples following the induction of OS, reducing DNA fragmentation, ORP, and ROS production while increasing intact MMP, vitality and motility (p < 0.05). Ascorbic acid had positive effects at a lower concentration, increasing acrosome reaction and lowering ORP (p < 0.05). At a higher concentration, it increased motility and sperm viability but also reduced acrosome reaction, MMP, and increased SDF (p < 0.05) with no significance for ROS (p > 0.05). Conclusions: White tea extract has a similar positive effect on sperm parameters as ascorbic acid, suggesting its potential in treating male infertility caused by OS.

Oxidative stress; Seminal parameters; Antioxidant therapy; Herbal medicinal plants; Reactive oxygen species; Pro-oxidant

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