Antioxidant activity in red mulberries on sperm development exposed by cigarette smoke

Introduction: The adverse effects of exposure to cigarette smoke have been discovered for a long time. However, most people assume that exposure to cigarette smoke merely causes respiratory problems. The increase in free radicals from cigarette smoke will also affect sperm development, decreasing the number of sperm produced. The intake of antioxidants derived from red mulberry is expected to reduce cigarette smoke exposure on sperm count. The study aimed to analyze the antioxidant activity of red mulberries on sperm development exposed by cigarette smoke in experimental animals. Methods: This study employed experimental animals, Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus), divided into five groups with different treatments in each group. The treatment in the form of exposure to cigarette smoke and red mulberry was undertaken for 30 days. The parameters used were histological preparations from the testes by calculating the number of Leydig cells, spermatocytes, and spermatids in each tubule. Results: The results showed that the negative control group had the highest mean, while the positive control group had the lowest mean. The treatment group showed that the more red mulberry juice was given, the more sperm count was increased. The study group had a significant difference (p <0.05) and a strong relationship between groups (r> 0.80). Conclusion: In conclusion, consuming red mulberry juice can increase sperm quantity exposed by cigarette smoke.