repro-protective effect of glabridin in diabetic mature male mice: spermatological and embryological evidence

Diabetes mellitus (dm) as a metabolic disorder is associated with male and female reproductive complications. glabridin ((4-[3r)-8,8-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2h-pyrano[2,3-f] chromen-3-yl] benzene-1,3-diol, c20h20o4; gbd), a prenylated isoflavan being extracted from glycyrrhiza glabra l., has been reported to have a protective effect against dm-elicited organopathies. this study aimed to examine the effects of gbd on testicular oxidative status, sperm characteristics, and early embryo development in diabetic mature mice. forty mature male mice were assigned into five equal groups, including non-treated control group, diabetic group received streptozotocin (50.00 mg/kg; ip), and three experimental groups receiving 12.50 mg/kg, 50.00 mg/kg, and 200.00 mg/kg gbd orally per day for 30 days, respectively. serum levels of testosterone, sperm parameters, and testicular malondialdehyde (mda), total antioxidant capacity (tac), and catalase (cat), as well as pre-implantation embryo development were determined. the diabetic group exhibited significantly reduced sperm motility, viability, and count, testosterone level, and testicular tac and cat, and increased testicular mda level, and dna-damaged and immature sperms along with poor in vitro fertilization outcomes compared to the control group. in contrast, the gbd administration, particularly at the highest dose, caused a pronounced improvement in the aforementioned parameters. these findings postulate that gbd may play a beneficial role in impeding dm-induced male reproductive complications through oxidative stress repression, and sperm cells and early embryos protection. nonetheless, further research is imperative to delve into the precise underlying mechanisms, laying the groundwork for the development of gbd-based therapeutic strategies to promote fertility status in diabetic patients.