We assessed the individual and combined consequence of 3‐indolepropionic acid on aflatoxin B1‐induced reproductive toxicity in rats. The experimental cohorts were dosed for four consecutive weeks with aflatoxin B1 (50 μg/kg), 3‐indolepropionic acid (50 mg/kg), and both (aflatoxin B1: 50 μg/kg + 3‐indolepropionic acid: 25 or 50 mg/kg), and the untreated control. Following sacrifice, biomarkers of testicular, epididymal and hypothalamic oxidative status, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, nitric oxide levels and myeloperoxidase activity were determined. Besides, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha, Bcl‐2 and Bax proteins were also assessed. Aflatoxin B1‐induced testicular, epididymal and hypothalamic oxidative stress was significantly alleviated with 3‐indolepropionic acid co‐treatment. Also, increases in biomarkers of oxidative stress and reduced levels of antioxidants were abated significantly in rats co‐treated with 3‐indolepropionic acid. Aflatoxin B1‐mediated increase in tumour necrosis factor‐alpha, Bax, nitric oxide and myeloperoxidase activity in the examined organs was decreased significantly in aflatoxin B1 and 3‐indolepropionic acid co‐treated rats. Also, 3‐indolepropionic acid dose dependently reduced Bcl‐2 levels in the treated rats. The degree of aflatoxin B1‐induced histopathological injuries was minimised in rats co‐treated with 3‐indolepropionic acid. Our results demonstrated that 3‐indolepropionic acid protected experimental rats from aflatoxin B1‐induced oxido‐inflammatory stress and apoptotic response in the examined organs.
We examined the protective effect of the apigeninidin (API)-enriched fraction from Sorghum bicolor sheaths extracts (SBE-05, SBE-06, and SBE-07) against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced dysregulation of male rat’s reproductive system that may trigger infertility. Male rats (160 ± 12 g) were treated with AFB1 (50 µg/kg) along with 5 or 10 mg/kg of SBE-05, SBE-06, and SBE-07 for 28 days. Subsequently, we assessed the reproductive hormone—prolactin, FSH, LH, testosterone levels, and testicular function enzymes. Moreover, we examined rats’ testes, epididymis, and hypothalamus for oxidative and inflammatory stress biomarkers, caspase-9 activity and tissues pathology. We observed that comparative to AFB1 alone treated rats, API co-treatment significantly ( p < 0.05) abated the AFB1-mediated decrease in prolactin and antioxidant defenses and lessened lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels in the examined organs—testes, epididymis, and hypothalamus. API abated AFB1-induced hormone decreases—testosterone, FSH, and LH; and caused improvement in sperm quantity and quality. API lessened AFB1-mediated increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine, increased interleukin-10 level, an anti-inflammatory cytokine and reduced caspase-9 activities. In addition, API reduced alterations in the examined tissue histology. Our findings suggest that S. bicolor API-enrich extracts have active antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities, which can protect against AFB1-induced dysfunction of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.