Background: Oxidative stress is the result of an imbalance betweenthe production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species(ROS), and has been described as a major cause of maleinfertility in ۳۰-۴۰% of cases overall. The positive impact ofPhoenix Dactylifera Pollen (Date Palm Pollen, DPP) consumptionson the improvement of sperm parameters of animal modelshas been well documented. However, there is little scientificevidence in support of the possible molecular mechanisms involvedin its efficacy on human fertility.Materials and Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the effectof DPP consumptions on the sperm parameters, ROS levels,and expression pattern of antioxidant genes and activity ofantioxidant enzymes of infertile men. A total of ۶۰ patients diagnosedwith male infertility and ۲۰ normospermic fertile menwere recruited into the study. Before and after treatment of patientswith DPP, ۴۰۰ mg/kg in gelatinous capsules every day for۳۰ consecutive days, semen samples were taken. Semen analysiswas performed using Computer-assisted sperm analysis(CASA). Level of free ۸-Isoprostane and activity of superoxidedismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were assessedby commercially available enzyme immunoassay method.Quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate of mRNA expressionlevels of Nrf۲, SOD۲,
GPX۴ and
CAT genes.Results: Our results demonstrated that DPP consumption lead tosignificant improvement of semen parameters including count,motility, morphology of sperms and a significant reduction of۸-Isoprostane levels (P<۰.۰۵). After treatment of patients, themRNA expression level of Nrf۲, SOD۲,
GPX۴ and
CAT genesand the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathioneperoxidase and catalase significantly increased (P<۰.۰۵). Moreover,we found that the increased expression of all antioxidantgenes and enzymes significantly correlated with improvementof semen parameters including count, motility and morphologyof sperm (P<۰.۰۵). A significant correlation between alterationof
SOD۲ gene expression and superoxide dismutase activity,GPX۴ and glutathione peroxidase,
CAT and catalase were alsoobserved (P<۰.۰۵).Conclusion: Our findings provide additional evidence to supportthe efficacy of DPP on the enhancement of male fertility.It seems that treatment with DPP can ameliorate the deleteriouseffects of ROS, at least in part, by activating antioxidantsystems of sperm and inducing antioxidant genes expressions.