The Role of Berberine and Nano-Berberine as Antioxidants in Preserving the Quality and Freezability of Livestock Sperm: A Review Study

Document Type : Scientific-Extensional Article

Authors

1 Postdoctoral Researcher in Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Science, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Alborz, Iran

2 Professor in Animal Physiology, Department of Animal Science, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Alborz, Iran

Abstract

During sperm cryopreservation, oxidative stress is recognized as one of the major factors contributing to reduced sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity, and ultimately fertilizing capacity. Compared with other cell types, sperm cells are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage due to their limited cytoplasmic volume, low levels of intracellular antioxidants, high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the plasma membrane, and pronounced susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. The supplementation of antioxidants into semen extenders has been proposed as an effective strategy to mitigate cryoinjury and cold shock during the freezing–thawing process; however, the stability and bioavailability of these compounds may be compromised during cryopreservation. Berberine, a plant-derived alkaloid with potent antioxidant properties, is limited in practical applications due to its low bioavailability. In this context, berberine-loaded nanoparticles (nano-berberine) have emerged as a promising approach to enhance stability, cellular uptake, and protective efficacy against oxidative stress. Accordingly, the present review aims to summarize and critically evaluate the antioxidant effects of berberine and nano-berberine in semen cryopreservation media, with particular emphasis on their roles in improving post-thaw sperm quality in animal species. This strategy may contribute to the advancement of selective breeding programs, improvement of artificial insemination efficiency, enhancement of frozen semen quality, preservation of valuable genetic resources, and conservation of endangered animal species.

Keywords

References

Abarghuei, M., Rouzbehan, Y., & Alipour, D. (2011). “Effect of oak (Quercus libani Oliv.) leave tannin on ruminal fermentation of sheep.” Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 13, 1021–1032.
Agarwal, A., Makker, K., & Sharma, R. (2008). “Clinical relevance of oxidative stress in male factor infertility: An update.” American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 59, 2–11.
Amidi, F., Pazhohan, A., Shabani Nashtaei, M., Khodarahmian, M., & Nekoonam, S. (2016). “The role of antioxidants in sperm freezing: A review.” Cell and Tissue Banking, 17, 745–756.
Andrabi, S. M. H., & Maxwell, W. M. C. (2007). “A review on reproductive biotechnologies for conservation of endangered mammalian species.” Animal Reproduction Science, 99, 223–243.
Badkoobeh, P., Parivar, K., Kalantar, S. M., Hosseini, S. D., & Salabat, A. (2013). “Effect of nano zinc oxide on doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress and sperm disorders in adult male Wistar rats.” Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 11, 355–362.
Bailey, J. L., Bilodeau, J. F., & Cormier, N. (2000). “Semen cryopreservation in domestic animals: A damaging and capacitating phenomenon.” Journal of Andrology, 21, 1–7.
Bansal, A. K., & Bilaspuri, G. S. (2011). “Impacts of oxidative stress and antioxidants on semen functions.” Veterinary Medicine International, 2011, Article ID 686137.
Barbas, J. P., & Mascarenhas, R. D. (2009). “Cryopreservation of domestic animal sperm cells.” Cell and Tissue Banking, 10, 49–62.
Bilodeau, J. F., Chatterjee, S., Sirard, M. A., & Gagnon, C. (2000). “Levels of antioxidant defenses are decreased in bovine spermatozoa after a cycle of freezing and thawing.” Molecular Reproduction and Development, 55, 282–288.
Chatterjee, S., & Gagnon, C. (2001). “Production of reactive oxygen species by spermatozoa undergoing cooling, freezing, and thawing.” Molecular Reproduction and Development, 59, 451–458.
Dalgleish, A. G., & O’Byrne, K. J. (2002). “Chronic immune activation and inflammation in the pathogenesis of AIDS and cancer.” Advances in Cancer Research, 84, 231–276.
Dorado, J., Rodríguez, I., & Hidalgo, M. (2007). “Cryopreservation of goat spermatozoa: Comparison of two freezing extenders based on post-thaw sperm quality and fertility rates after artificial insemination.” Theriogenology, 68, 168–177.
Doshi, S. B., Khullar, K., Sharma, R. K., & Agarwal, A. (2012). “Role of reactive nitrogen species in male infertility.” Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 10, 1–11.
Evans, E. P., Scholten, J. T. M., Mzyk, A., Reyes-San-Martin, C., Llumbet, A. E., Hamoh, T., Arts, E. G. J. M., Schirhagl, R., & Cantineau, A. E. (2021). “Male subfertility and oxidative stress.” Redox Biology, 46, 102071.
Farber, J. L. (1994). “Mechanisms of cell injury by activated oxygen species.” Environmental Health Perspectives, 102(Suppl. 10), 17–24.
Gowramma, B., Keerthi, U., Rafi, M., & Muralidhara Rao, D. (2015). “Biogenic silver nanoparticles production and characterization from native strain of Corynebacterium species and its antimicrobial activity.” 3 Biotech, 5, 195–201.
Herrera, C., Brogliatti, G., Cavia, R., Conde, P., Revora, M., & Pasqualini, R. (2005). “CASA sperm parameters and their relation with in vitro fertilization.” Proceedings of the 15th International Congress on Animal Reproduction, 32, 411–419.
Imanshahidi, M., & Hosseinzadeh, H. (2008). “Pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Berberis vulgaris and its active constituent, berberine.” Phytotherapy Research, 22, 999–1012.
Kuželová, L., Svoradová, A., Baláži, A., Vašíček, J., Langraf, V., Kolesárová, A., Sláma, P., & Chrenek, P. (2024). “Enhancing of rabbit sperm cryopreservation with antioxidants Mito-Tempo and berberine.” Antioxidants, 13, 1360.
Lenzi, A., Picardo, M., Gandini, L., Lombardo, F., Terminali, O., Passi, S., & Dondero, F. (1994). “Glutathione treatment of dyspermia: Effect on the lipoperoxidation process.” Human Reproduction, 9, 2044–2050.
Liu, W., Liu, P., Tao, S., Deng, Y., Li, X., Lan, T., Zhang, X., Guo, F., Huang, W., & Chen, F. (2008). “Berberine inhibits aldose reductase and oxidative stress in rat mesangial cells cultured under high glucose.” Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 475, 128–134.
Matsuoka, T., Imai, H., Kohno, H., & Fukui, Y. (2006). “Effects of bovine serum albumin and trehalose in semen diluents for improvement of frozen–thawed ram spermatozoa.” Reproduction, Development and Fertility, 52, 675–682.
McLaughlin, E. A., Ford, W. C. L., & Hull, M. G. R. (1992). “The contribution of the toxicity of a glycerol–egg yolk–citrate cryopreservative to the decline in human sperm motility during cryopreservation.” Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 95, 749–754.
Monica, R. C., & Cremonini, R. (2009). Nanoparticles and higher plants. Caryologia, 62, 161–165.
Pandey, S., Mewada, A., Thakur, M., Shah, R., Oza, G., & Sharon, M. (2013). “Biogenic gold nanoparticles as fotillas to fire berberine hydrochloride using folic acid as molecular road map.” Materials Science and Engineering C, 33, 3716–3722.
Parks, J. E., & Lynch, D. V. (1992). “Lipid composition and thermotropic phase behaviour of boar, bull, stallion, and rooster sperm membranes.” Cryobiology, 29, 255–266.
Piri, M., Mahdavi, A. H., Hajian, M., Nasr-Esfahani, M. H., Soltani, L., & Tanhaei Vash, N. (2024). “Effects of nanoberberine and berberine loaded on green synthesized selenium nanoparticles on cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization of goat sperm.” Scientific Reports, 14, 24171.
Purdy, P. H. (2006). “A review on goat sperm cryopreservation.” Small Ruminant Research, 63, 215–225.
Sahibzada, M. U. K., Sadiq, A., Faidah, H. S., Khurram, M., Amin, M. U., Haseeb, A., & Kakar, M. (2018). “Berberine nanoparticles with enhanced in vitro bioavailability: Characterization and antimicrobial activity.” Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 12, 303–312.
Shen, L., & Ji, H.-F. (2010). “The mechanisms of ROS photogeneration by berberine, a natural isoquinoline alkaloid.” Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 99, 154–156.
Sikka, S. C. (1996). “Oxidative stress and role of antioxidants in normal and abnormal sperm function.” Frontiers in Bioscience, 1, e78–e86.
Silva, P. F. N., & Gadella, B. M. (2006). “Detection of damage in mammalian sperm cells.” Theriogenology, 65, 958–978.
Silvestre, M. A., Yániz, J. L., Peña, F. J., Santolaria, P., & Castelló-Ruiz, M. (2021). “Role of antioxidants in cooled liquid storage of mammal spermatozoa.” Antioxidants, 10, 1096.
Tan, Y., Tang, Q., Hu, B. R., & Xiang, J. Z. (2007). “Antioxidant properties of berberine on cultured rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells injured by hydrogen peroxide.” Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 28, 1914–1918.
Tanhaei Vash, N., Nadri, P., & Karimi, A. (2022). “Synergistic effects of myo-inositol and melatonin on cryopreservation of goat spermatozoa.” Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 57, 876–885.
Tvrdá, E., Massanyi, P., & Lukáč, N. (2017). “Physiological and pathological roles of free radicals in male reproduction.” In Spermatozoa: Facts and Perspectives.
Wu, S.-J., Don, T.-M., Lin, C.-W., & Mi, F.-L. (2014). “Delivery of berberine using chitosan/fucoidan-taurine conjugate nanoparticles for treatment of defective intestinal epithelial tight junction barrier.” Marine Drugs, 12, 5677–5697.
Wu, Y., Huang, X., Yang, M., Xu, J., Chen, Z., Yu, Z., & Liu, J. (2018). “Ameliorative effect of berberine coated bio-active nanoparticles in acetaminophen induced hepato-renal damage in diabetic rats.” Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology b: Biology, 189, 250-257.
Zhang, X., Ren, H. and Liu, L. 2008. “Effects of different dose berberine on hemodynamic parameters and [Ca2+] i of cardiac myocytes of diastolic heart failure rat model”. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi= Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi= China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica. 33: 818-821.
Zuo, F., Nakamura, N., Akao, T., & Hattori, M. (2006). “Pharmacokinetics of berberine and its main metabolites in conventional and pseudo germ-free rats determined by liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry.” Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 34, 2064–2072.
Professional Journal of Domestic
Volume 26, Issue 2 - Serial Number 37
In Progress
September 2026
Pages 26-32

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics