This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of berberine-rich fraction (BF) as a protective and/or a therapeutic agent against inflammation and oxidative stress during male infertility. Sexually mature Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into five groups treated with either corn oil, BF (100 mg/kg BW, orally, daily for 30 days), gossypol acetate (5 mg/kg BW, i.p.) eight times for 16 days, BF alone for 14 days then coadministered with gossypol acetate for the next 16 days (protected group), or gossypol acetate for 16 days then treated with BF for 30 days (treated group). All animals completed the experimental period (46 days) without obtaining any treatments in the gap period. Sperm parameters, oxidative index, and inflammatory markers were measured. Gossypol injection significantly decreased the semen quality and testosterone level that resulted from the elevation of testicular reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (TBARS and NO), TNF-α, TNF-α-converting enzyme, and interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18) by 230, 180, 12.5, 97.9, and 300%, respectively, while interleukin-12 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-3 were significantly decreased by 59 and 66%, respectively. BF (protected and treated groups) significantly improved the semen quality, oxidative stress, and inflammation associated with male infertility. It is suitable to use more advanced studies to validate these findings.

Refining of crude oil and detoxification of meal of apricot seeds, which were removed as a waste during apricot processing, are the main aims of this article. The results indicated that: a) Whole apricot kernel was rich in oil (48.95%), protein (28.2%), carbohydrates (16.70%), crude fiber (2.85%) and ash (2.15%), b) Crude oil of apricot kernel had a light yellow colour, 192.1 saponification value, 103 iodine number, low in unsaponifiable matter (0.88%), free fatty acids (2.22%) and free from peroxides. It consisted mainly of oleic (69.82%), linoleic (23.3%) and palmitic (5.4%) acids which is quit similar to sunflower oil. It was fractionated into 5 main classes and 4 main triglycerides on TLC plates. The antioxidant potency of 1% of this oil was nearly similar to that of 0.02% butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) when both were added to refined sunflower oil and kept at 90 o C for 60 hrs, c) The refining loss of apricot kernel oil was 10.03% after degumming and 4.18% after neutralization. Refining process reduced 95.5% of free fatty acids and 71.8% of the colour of apricot kernel oil. The panelists accepted very well the organoleptic characteristics of chisster cheese dressing prepared from the refined apricot kernel oil, d) Agitating of apricot kernel meal for 6 hrs with 5 of its weight hot water (60 o C) for detoxification, reduced its content of HCN (91.8%), tannins (65%), phytic acid (42.8%) and improved in-vitro protein digestibility from 66.8 to 85.1%. The detoxified meal was rich in protein (54.76%), carbohydrates and minerals, especially P (651.2 mg/100 g), Ca (208 mg/100 g), K (1321.1 mg/100 g) and Mg (162.1 mg/100 g), and e) The protein of the detoxified apricot kernel meal was free from trypsin inhibitor, rich in most essential amino acids, except the sulfur-containing one, lysine and threonine. It had a good functional properties, water absorption, fat absorption, emulsification and foaming capacities. These properties encourage the utilization of this meal as a supplementary protein source and as a food extender in meat products.