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Epimedii Folium Supplementation Improves Semen Quality, Hormonal Profile, and Immune Function by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Seminal Metabolites in Aged Boars
by
Bin Ran
1,†,
Shengxin Luo
1,†,
Chenxi Zhou
1,
Long Wen
1,
Junjie Wu
1,
Yunxiang Zhao
2,
Xiaoping Zhu
1,
Zhili Li
1,* and
Mengjie Liu
1,* 1
School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China
2
College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Animals 2026, 16(12), 1833; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16121833 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 25 April 2026
/
Revised: 5 June 2026
/
Accepted: 11 June 2026
/
Published: 14 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Reproductive Microbiota in Animal Fertility and Reproductive Health)
Simple Summary
Boar reproductive performance and the extension of their productive lifespan are critical determinants of production efficiency in the swine industry. Maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis and a favorable seminal plasma metabolic profile is crucial for the reproductive performance of boars. Herba Epimedii Folium (HEF), as a type of functional botanical supplement, is traditionally recognized for its efficacy in treating osteoporosis, delaying aging, and enhancing male sexual function. This study demonstrates that HEF may enhance semen quality and immune status in aged Bama boars. Among them, 3 g/kg HEF increases the serum hormone (LH) level. Integrative multi-omics analysis of intestinal microbiota composition and seminal plasma metabolites in aged boars revealed that HEF promoted intestinal health by reducing the abundance of the potentially pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus. Concurrently, HEF modulated the seminal plasma metabolic profile by elevating the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, acetylcarnitine, retinoic acid, methyltestosterone, and prostaglandin. This study supports the potential application of HEF in optimizing the reproductive performance of aged boars and conserving germplasm resources.
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary Herba Epimedii Folium (HEF) supplementation on semen quality, reproductive hormones, immune parameters, gut microbiota, and seminal plasma metabolites in aged boars, and to evaluate its potential for extending their reproductive lifespan. A total of 18 Bama boars (approximately 3 years of age) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 6 per group). The control group received a basal diet, while the treatment groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with 3 g/kg or 5 g/kg of HEF for 8 weeks. The results showed that adding HEF to the diet of aged boars increased the motility and concentration of their sperm and reduced the proportion of abnormal sperm. Treatment with 3 g/kg HEF increased serum LH and IgG levels, whereas the 5 g/kg dose elevated IgA levels in both serum and seminal plasma, as well as IgG levels in seminal plasma. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that dietary HEF supplementation reduced the relative abundance of Streptococcus and Oscillospiraceae UCG-002 in the gut of aged boars. PICRUSt2 analysis predicted that pathways involved in lysine biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and amino acid-related enzymes were enriched in the HEF treatment group. Semen metabolite profiling showed that the HEF treatment enriched several key metabolites, including 5-hydroxytryptophan, acetylcarnitine, tretinoin, methyltestosterone, prostaglandin A3, and prostaglandin B2. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a negative association between Streptococcus abundance and sperm motility, whereas acetylcarnitine, 5-hydroxytryptophan, and prostaglandin A3 were positively associated with motility. Furthermore, 5-hydroxytryptophan levels were positively linked to both sperm concentration and serum LH. In summary, our study demonstrates that Epimedii Folium may enhance the semen quality of aged Bama boars by improving the intestinal microbiota and the metabolic profile of seminal plasma. These findings may offer a theoretical basis for optimizing reproduction and conserving germplasm resources in aged Bama miniature pigs.
Keywords:
Epimedii Folium; reproductive hormones; immune function; multi-omics
