傳統中藥紅麴米對鋅缺乏所誘導睪丸及精蟲傷害之保護作用   全文下載

The Traditional Chinese Medicine, Monascus-Fermented Rice, Prevents Zn Deficiency-Induced Testis and Sperms Injury

紅麴（Monascus purpureus）是一種真菌，在台灣將Monascus於米上進行發酵即稱為紅麴米（RmR），因Monascus代謝產物含有多量的紅色素。本論文評估紅麴米（RmR）對睪丸與精蟲氧化壓力的防護能力。大鼠以缺鋅飼料餵食12周以誘導鋅缺乏，而控制組則以正常飼料餵食。隨後，缺鋅鼠再分成以下6個組別，包括缺乏鋅（zd）、鋅補充（zC），一倍劑量紅麴米（1R, 151 mg RmR/kg），五倍劑量紅麴米（5R, 755 mg RmR/kg），一倍劑量紅麴米 + 鋅補充（1Rz, 1R + zC）及五倍劑量紅麴米 + 鋅補充（5Rz, 5R + zC），所有動物連續8週餵食不同飼料（RmR/zn）。結果顯示缺鋅鼠之輸精管上並未發現精蟲細胞生成，且可明顯觀察到睪丸壞死及萎縮現象。然而，餵食5R及5Rz顯著改善缺鋅鼠之睪丸抗氧化酵素，增加血清睪固酮及精子數目，更可抑制caspase活性及活性氧生成，顯示RmR可減弱缺鋅誘導氧化性損傷及睪丸細胞凋亡。除此之外，1Rz及5Rz對抗缺鋅誘導生育傷害的預防作用優於鋅補充組（zC），顯示RmR可做為補充劑以輔助與鋅缺乏有關的疾病治療。"

Monascus purpureus is a fungus used in rice fermentation. Monascus-fermented rice is called red-mold rice (RMR) in Taiwan since the fermentation products contain a considerable amount of red pigments. The protective effects of RMR on oxidative stress in the testis and sperm were evaluated in this study. Zn deficiency was induced in rats by feeding them with a Zn-deficient diet for 12 weeks while the control rats were fed with a normal diet. The Zn-deficient rats were then divided into 6 groups, designated as Zn-deficient (ZD), Zn-compensated (ZC), 1R (151 mg RMR/kg), 5R (755 mg RMR/kg), 1R + ZC (1RZ), and 5R + ZC (5RZ). The animals were admin-istered with the mentioned diet (RMR/Zn) for 8 weeks. In the ZD rats, no spermatid cell formation was observed in the seminiferous tubular epithelia, and testis necrosis/atrophy was apparent. However, 5R and 5RZ administration improved testicular antioxidant enzyme activity, elevated serum testosterone levels, and increased sperm number in ZD rats; this treatment also exhibited inhibitory effects on caspase activities and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the ZD rats, suggesting that RMR attenuated ZD-induced oxidative stress and testis apoptosis. The preventive activity against ZD-induced reproductive damage was more apparent in the 1RZ and 5RZ groups than in the ZC group, suggesting that RMR can serve as a supplement in adjuvant therapy for diseases associated with Zn deficiency.