What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to evaluate the impact of Scabiosa atropurpurea extract on the quality of cryopreserved ram semen and its oxidative status.

May 9, 2026Open Access

Scabiosa atropurpurea mitigates oxidative stress and maintains the viability of cryopreserved ram sperm: evidence from oral and extender supplementation

Key Points

This study aims to evaluate the impact of Scabiosa atropurpurea extract on the quality of cryopreserved ram semen and its oxidative status.
Ten rams were divided into control (n=5) and treatment (n=5) groups receiving oral AES (50 mL/day, 2 mg/kg).
Semen was collected, pooled, and diluted with extenders containing 0-1 g/L AES, resulting in 10 conditions.
Semen parameters like motility, viability, oxidative stress markers, and cellular integrity were assessed post-thaw.
Oral AES improved total antioxidant status (TAS increased to 22.0 ± 0.5 mmol/L; P<0.05) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA to 3.5 ± 0.3 µmol/L; P<0.05).
Extender AES reduced damaged spermatozoa (24.0 ± 1.1% vs. 37.7 ± 1.2%; P<0.05) and enhanced ATP levels (2.1 ± 0.0 mg/L vs. 0.9 ± 0.0 mg/L; P<0.05).
Combined supplementation showed significant improvements in membrane integrity, ATP production, and calcium concentration in post-thaw sperm.

Abstract

• AES improves biochemical stability of frozen–thawed ram semen • Extender supplementation enhances membrane integrity • Oral AES strengthens systemic antioxidant defenses • Combined strategy reduces cryo-induced sperm damage • Natural antioxidant approach for semen preservation This study evaluated the effects of oral supplementation with Scabiosa atropurpurea aqueous extract (AES) and/or its inclusion in the semen extender on the post-thaw semen quality and oxidative status of ram semen. Ten “ Queue Fine de l’Ouest” rams were assigned to either a control (n = 5) or a treated group (n = 5) receiving AES orally (50 mL/day, 2 mg/kg). Semenwas collected, pooled, and divided into five aliquots, then diluted with extenders containing 0–1 g/L AES, resulting in 10 experimental conditions. After thawing, several parameters were assessed: sperm motility, kinetics, viability, morphology, membrane integrity, oxidative stress markers (TAS, TOS, OSI, MDA), ATP and Ca²⁺ concentrations, DNA fragmentation, and HSP70levels. Oral AES supplementation did not significantly affect total motility (P > 0.05); however, itimproved antioxidant status by increasing TAS (22.0 ± 0.5 vs. 20.3 ± 0.3 mmol/L; P< 0.05) and reducing MDA (5.2 ± 0.3 vs 3.5 ± 0.3 µmol/L; p < 0.05) and OSI (1.1 ± 0.0 vs 0.7 ± 0.0; P < 0.05). The inclusion of AES in the extender reduced the proportion of damaged spermatozoa (24.0 ± 1.1% vs. 37.7 ± 1.2%; P < 0.05) and improved both the ATP ratio (2.1 ± 0.0 vs. 0.9 ± 0.0mg/L per g protein) and Ca²⁺ concentration (32.9 ± 1.0 vs. 22.6 ± 1.1 mg/L per g protein; P< 0.05). The combined supplementation protocol (2 mg/kg oral AES + 1 g/L extender AES) provided the most effective protection against oxidative stress and significantly enhanced membrane integrity, ATP production, and Ca²⁺ levels in post-thaw sperm. In conclusion, AES supplementation improves the biochemical stability and cellular integrity of cryopreserved ram semen.

Scabiosa atropurpurea mitigates oxidative stress and maintains the viability of cryopreserved ram sperm: evidence from oral and extender supplementation

Key Points

Abstract

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