Application of momordica grosvenori sweet glycoside extract in improving the reproductive capacity of heat-stressed boars

Abstract

The Mogroside extract has the effect of improving the damage of the heat stress boar's reproductive capacity. Research shows that, in the process of heat stress of boar, by adding Mogroside extract in the basic diet, the damage of reproductive capacity caused by heat stress can be effectively improved. The test data shows that the Mogroside extract can significantly improve the sperm density, effective sperm number, sperm motility and reduce the sperm abnormality rate of boar; significantly increase the content of a-glucosidase, lactate dehydrogenase, acrosome enzyme and hyaluronidase in the semen, and increase the concentration of testosterone in the serum, enhance the energy supply, structural integrity, functional maturity and fertilization capacity of sperm. Therefore, the Mogroside extract has the potential for further development in the treatment and prevention of heat stress boar's reproductive capacity damage, and can be used for preparing the medicine for improving the heat stress boar's reproductive capacity, so as to further develop the health care function and medicinal value of Siraitia grosvenorii.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of mogroside technology, and particularly relates to the application of mogroside extract in improving the reproductive capacity of heat-stressed boars. Background Technology

[0002] Homeothermic animals all possess an isothermal zone suitable for growth and development. When the ambient temperature exceeds the upper limit of this isothermal zone, the body cannot maintain thermal balance through the thermoregulatory center, leading to abnormal behavior, decreased feed intake, reproductive dysfunction, and in severe cases, death. In livestock production, with the continuous development of intensive farming, heat stress has become a major factor affecting production efficiency in tropical and subtropical regions during the summer. High summer temperatures often cause heat stress in boars, which in turn damages testicular function, triggers severe oxidative stress, leading to sperm damage and reproductive dysfunction, resulting in decreased fertility and even seasonal infertility. In modern pig breeding systems, breeding boars are the core of genetic progress transmission, and their reproductive performance directly affects the production efficiency of pig farms. High-quality semen is an important prerequisite for ensuring high conception rates in sows.

[0003] Monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii) is a perennial vine belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, native to Guangxi, China. Its use as a medicinal material is recorded in the *Compendium of Materia Medica*. In traditional Chinese medicine, monk fruit is often used as a herbal tea, a sweetener, or to relieve sore throat, colds, coughs, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Its main bioactive component is mogrosides. In recent years, mogroside extract has been approved as a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) substance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is approved for use as a food additive in China and Japan. Multiple scientific studies have shown that monk fruit extract possesses various biological functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and adjuvant treatment of diabetes. Research has also confirmed that it can mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress on in vitro oocyte maturation and improve the quality of frozen-thawed semen by enhancing sperm function and alleviating oxidative stress. In livestock production, monk fruit extract can significantly improve the growth performance of piglets, increase daily weight gain in sheep, reduce feed conversion ratio, and enhance muscle tenderness and intramuscular fat content. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide the application of mogroside extract in improving the fertility of heat-stressed boars.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: Application of monk fruit glycoside extract in the preparation of drugs to improve the reproductive capacity of heat-stressed boars.

[0006] Heat-stressed boars are boars that suffer from heat stress, resulting in impaired reproductive performance. Heat stress originates from a high-temperature and high-humidity environment.

[0007] The average thermal index (THI) of the breeding environment was as high as 80, and the surface temperature of the boar's scrotum was as high as 35.85℃.

[0008] The mogroside extract contains mogroside V, with a content of up to 30%.

[0009] Improving the fertility of heat-stressed boars includes increasing sperm density, the number of effective sperm, improving sperm motility, and reducing sperm abnormality rate.

[0010] Improving the fertility of heat-stressed boars involves increasing the levels of α-glucosidase (α-GLU), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acrosomal enzyme (ACE), and hyaluronidase (HAase) in semen, as well as increasing the concentration of testosterone (T) in serum.

[0011] The drug is an oral dosage form.

[0012] This is a feed additive for boars, containing mogroside extract.

[0013] The mogroside extract contains mogroside V, with a content of up to 30%.

[0014] The above-mentioned boar feed additives are to be added to the boar's basal daily feed at a weight ratio of 0.15%-0.6%.

[0015] In response to the current situation of reproductive impairment in boars caused by heat stress, the inventors conducted research on mogroside extract and found that it has the effect of improving the reproductive impairment of boars under heat stress. Studies have shown that adding mogroside extract to the basal diet of boars during heat stress can effectively improve the reproductive impairment caused by heat stress. Experimental data show that mogroside extract can significantly increase sperm density and effective sperm count in boars, improve sperm motility, and reduce sperm abnormality rate; it can also significantly increase the levels of α-glucosidase (α-GLU), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acrosomal enzyme (ACE), and hyaluronidase (HAase) in semen, as well as increase the concentration of testosterone (T) in serum, thereby enhancing sperm energy supply, structural integrity, functional maturity, and fertilization capacity. Therefore, the mogroside extract has the potential for further development in the treatment and prevention of reproductive damage in heat-stressed boars. The mogroside extract can be used to prepare drugs to improve the reproductive function of heat-stressed boars, so as to further develop the health care function and medicinal value of mogroside. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a graph showing the results of environmental monitoring in the pigsty. In the graph: a) temperature, b) relative humidity, c) THI.

[0017] Figure 2This is a graph showing the results of surface temperature monitoring of boar scrotums. In the graph: a) Infrared images of boar scrotums from the control group, b) 0.15% group, and cd) 0.6% group. Detailed Implementation

[0018] 1. Experimental Methods 1.1 Laboratory Animals Eighteen adult boars (Duroc, Large White, and Landrace) of similar weight and age, with similar semen quality in three consecutive tests, were selected as experimental animals. They were fed in fixed quantities and had free access to water, in accordance with the feeding standards of large-scale pig farms.

[0019] 1.2 Main Reagents The mogroside extract was purchased from Guilin Rhine Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Product model: mogroside V30% (MOG03), production batch number: MOG03-25070801).

[0020] 1.3 Experimental Grouping Boars were randomly divided into three groups (n=6): a control group, a group receiving a basal diet supplemented with 0.15% mogroside extract (0.15%), and a group receiving a basal diet supplemented with 0.6% mogroside extract (0.6%). Before the experiment, the boars were pre-fed for 3 days. After the experiment began, the boars in each group were fed at 7:30 AM and 3:00 PM daily for 42 days. During this period, the temperature and relative humidity in the pigsty were recorded daily, and the total heat index (THI) was calculated. The surface temperature of the boars' scrotum was measured weekly using a thermal imaging camera to monitor the heat stress experienced by the boars.

[0021] On day 42 of the experiment, semen and blood were collected from all experimental boars, and semen quality-related indicators were tested. Serum was separated from the blood and stored at -80°C.

[0022] 1.4 Measurement Indicators and Methods 1.4.1 Boar semen quality A small amount of semen is placed into a fully automated sperm analyzer to detect sperm density, sperm motility, sperm abnormality rate, etc.

[0023] 1.4.2 Biochemical indicators of boar semen Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed using the kits for porcine α-glucosidase (α-Glu), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acrosomal enzyme (ACE), and hyaluronidase (HAase) from Nanjing Jiancheng Biotechnology Research Institute, following the instructions.

[0024] 1.4.3 Boar serum hormones Testosterone (T) and progesterone (P) concentrations were measured using a kit from Beijing Northern Biotechnology Research Institute Co., Ltd., following the radioimmunoassay instructions.

[0025] 1.5 Data Analysis All data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Data were processed and preliminarily analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 29.0 software, with one-way ANOVA used. P > 0.05 indicated no statistically significant difference, and P < 0.05 indicated a significant difference.

[0026] 2. Results 2.1 Assessment of heat stress caused by the rearing environment in boars During the experiment, the ambient temperature and relative humidity of the pigsty were monitored daily. Figure 1 a and b). The Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) is calculated based on temperature and relative humidity, and the results are as follows: Figure 1 As shown in Figure C, the average THI was as high as 80. It can be concluded that the experimental boars suffered severe heat stress. The scrotal surface temperature results of the boars are shown in Table 1 and... Figure 2 As shown, its average temperature is ≥35.85°C. Figure 2 ).

[0027]

[0028] 2.2 Effects of monk fruit glycoside extract on semen quality in heat-stressed boars Table 2 lists the sperm density, sperm motility, effective sperm count, and sperm abnormality rate used to evaluate boar semen quality. Compared with the control group, the sperm density and effective sperm count of boars in the 0.6% group were significantly increased (P<0.05); although the sperm abnormality rate also decreased and sperm motility increased, the differences were not significant (P>0.05).

[0029]

[0030] Note: For comparisons within the same line, differences in lowercase letters on the superscript are considered significant (P<0.05), while identical letters are considered not significant (P>0.05).

[0031] 2.3 Effects of monk fruit glycoside extract on biochemical parameters of semen in heat-stressed boars As shown in Table 3, compared with the control group, the addition of 0.6% mogroside extract to the diet significantly increased the content of α-glucosidase (α-Glu), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acrosomal enzyme (ACE) and hyaluronidase (HAase) in boar semen (P<0.05).

[0032]

[0033] Note: For comparisons within the same line, differences in lowercase letters on the superscript are considered significant (P<0.05), while identical letters are considered not significant (P>0.05).

[0034] 2.4 Effects of monk fruit glycoside extract on serum hormones in heat-stressed boars As shown in Table 4, compared with the control group, the concentration of testosterone (T) in the group with added monk fruit glycoside extract increased in a gradient with increasing concentration. The progesterone (P) hormone in the 0.15% and 0.6% groups was lower than that in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).

[0035]

[0036] Note: For comparisons within the same line, differences in lowercase letters on the superscript are considered significant (P<0.05), while identical letters are considered not significant (P>0.05).

[0037] 3. Conclusion In this study, 18 boars were randomly divided into three groups (n=6): a control group fed a basal diet, a group fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.15% mogroside extract (0.15%), and a group fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.6% mogroside extract (0.6%). All experimental boars were housed in a pigsty under heat stress for 42 days. The results showed that the boars fed a diet supplemented with 0.6% mogroside extract had significantly increased sperm density and effective sperm count, decreased sperm abnormality rate, and increased sperm motility. The supplement also significantly increased the levels of α-glucosidase (α-Glu), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acrosomal enzyme (ACE), and hyaluronidase (HAase) in the semen, and increased serum testosterone (T) concentration. The improved semen biochemistry and serum hormone levels indicated that sperm performance was significantly enhanced in key areas such as energy supply, structural integrity, functional maturity, and fertilization. It is evident that mogroside extract has a positive effect on improving reproductive damage in heat-stressed boars.

Claims

1. Application of monk fruit glycoside extract in the preparation of drugs to improve the reproductive capacity of heat-stressed boars.

2. The application according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat-stressed boars are those that have suffered heat stress and have impaired reproductive capacity. Heat stress is caused by a high-temperature and high-humidity environment.

3. The application according to claim 2, characterized in that: The average temperature index of the breeding environment was as high as 80, and the surface temperature of the boar's scrotum was as high as 35.85℃.

4. The application according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mogroside extract contains mogroside V, with a content of up to 30%.

5. The application according to claim 1, characterized in that: The improvement of heat-stressed boar fertility includes increasing boar sperm density, effective sperm count, sperm motility, and reducing sperm abnormality rate.

6. The application according to claim 1, characterized in that: The improvement of heat-stressed boar fertility includes increasing the levels of α-glucosidase, lactate dehydrogenase, acrosomal enzyme, and hyaluronidase in semen, as well as increasing the concentration of testosterone in serum.

7. The application according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drug is an oral dosage form.

8. A boar feed additive, characterized in that... It contains monk fruit glycoside extract.

9. The boar feed additive according to claim 8, characterized in that: The mogroside extract contains mogroside V, with a content of up to 30%.

10. The method of using the boar feed additive according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that... Add it to the boar's basal diet at a weight ratio of 0.15%-0.6%.

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