Cichorium intybus L. extract ameliorates testicular oxidative stress induced by lead acetate in male rats.

Dorostghoal, Mehran; Seyyednejad, Seyyed Mansour; Nejad, Marzieh Noroozi Tabrizi

Objective: Oxidative stress has been suggested as a possible mechanism for the adverse effects of heavy metal toxicity on male reproduction. Cichorium intybus L. is used in Iranian folk medicine as a hepatoprotective agent as well as for its supposed fertility-enhancing properties. The present study was performed to investigate whether the ethanolic extract of C. intybus leaves could protect male rats against lead-induced testicular oxidative stress. Methods: In this experimental study, adult Wistar rats were treated with 0.1% lead acetate in drinking water alone or with 50, 100, or 200 mg/ kg body weight of C. intybus extract via gavage once daily for 70 days. The weight of their reproductive organs, levels of serum hormones, histometric parameters of the seminiferous tubules, epidydimal sperm quality, and oxidative stress status were evaluated. Results: The testis weight, seminiferous tubule diameter, epididymal sperm count, serum testosterone level, and testicular levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced (p<0.05) in the lead-treated rats. Moreover, significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of malondialdehyde were observed in the lead-exposed group compared to the control. However, the co-administration of C. intybus ethanolic extract in lead-treated rats was associated with a significant improvement in reproductive parameters. Conclusion: We conclude that C. intybus leaf extract has the potential to prevent lead-induced testicular toxicity and to suppress the adverse effects of lead on male reproductive health.

ELLAGIC acid; CHICORY; OXIDATIVE stress; HEAVY metal toxicology; MALE reproductive health; GENITALIA

Clinical & Experimental Reproductive Medicine, 2020, Vol 47, Issue 3, p161

2233-8233

Academic Journal

10.5653/cerm.2019.03496