Effects of Licorice Extract on Sperm Motility of Chilled Stored Ram Semen

This study was designed to investigate the effects of licorice extract (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) addition to semen diluters on ram sperm progressive motility during storage at 5 ˚C for 72 h. Semen was collected from 3 proven Awassi rams. Licorice extract powder was added at levels of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 μg per ml. of diluter. Diluter containing no licorice extracts served as control (0).Progressive motility was estimated subjectively after dilution (0h), and at 24, 48, and 72 h of storage. The experiment was replicated 2 times with egg yolk-tris (EYT) diluter and 2 times with yolk- glucose-citrate diluter. Progressive motility increased significantly (p 0.01) in levels of licorice extract 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 μg / ml in both diluters, during all storage periods. The means of progressive motility were 72.5 ± 1.02 %, 72.08 ± 1.05, 70.90 ± 2.05 % and 66.25 ± 3.15 % respectively, compared to the control (0) 61.45 ± 16.2 %. Levels 1, 5 and 10 μg /ml were superior (p 0.01) to levels 50 and 100 μg /ml. In conclusion, the addition of licorice extract to the diluter improved ram sperm progressive motility during cooled storage at 5 ˚C.