Antioxidant Capacity of Momordica charantia Extract and its Protective Effect on Testicular Damage in Valproic Acid-Induced Rats

Abstract

SUMMARY:Although Momordica charantia (MC) has preventive effects on tissue injuries, antioxidant capacity and protective effect of MC pulp and peel (MCP) on valproic acid (VPA)-testicular damage have never been reported. Fresh MCPs were aqueous extracted and determined for antioxidant capacity and momordicine I level by HPLC. Male rats were divided into 5 groups (control, VPA (500 mg/kgBW), MCP20/40/ or 80 mg/kgBW+VPA). In 30 experimental days, animals were pretreated with different doses of MCPs for 20 days before VPA injection for 10 consecutive days. Sperm concentration, testosterone hormone, and testicular histology of all groups were investigated. Expressions of testicular tyrosine phosphorylated and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) proteins were examined by Western blot. Results showed that MCP contains TPC (39.24±0.65 ug/mg garlic acid), antioxidant capacities (FRAP=33.08±0.21 ug/ mg ascorbic acid equivalent, IC50 of DPPH=389.8±3.20 ug/ml), and momordicine I (404.9 mg/g MCP). Sperm concentration in MCP80+VPA group was increased as compared to VPA group. Testosterone level in MCP treated groups was significantly increased. MCP protected testicular damage and could prevent the decrease of StAR and a 50-kDa phosphorylated protein expression in VPAtreated testis. In conclusion, MCP has antioxidant activities and can prevent male reproductive toxicity in VPA-induced rats.

Valproic acid changes the expression of tyrosine‐phosphorylated proteins in rat seminal vesicle

“…In particular, it has been documented that VPA could decrease the levels of sex hormones (FSH, LH and testosterone) and semen quality in epileptic males (Bauer, Blumenthal, Reuber, & Stoffel‐Wagner, ; Røste et al, ), and treatment with VPA is assumed to cause male sub/infertility, although the actual mechanism underlying this is still under investigation. Studies investigating the male reproductive toxicity of VPA have commonly used rats treated with VPA at 500 mg/kg BW intraperitoneally for 10 consecutive days as an experimental animal model (Hamza & Amin, ; Iamsaard et al, ; Iamsaard, Sukhorum, Arun, et al, ; Iamsaard, Sukhorum, Sampannang, & Sripanidkulchai, ; Maneenin et al, ; Sawatpanich et al, ; Sukhorum & Iamsaard, ; Sukhorum, Sampannang, Sripanidkulchai, & Iamsaard, ). As documented, VPA affects male reproductive parameters, resulting in decreases in epididymal sperm concentration, normal sperm morphology and sex hormones (Bauer et al, ; Hamza & Amin, ; Iamsaard et al, ; Iamsaard, Sukhorum, Arun, et al, ; Iamsaard, Sukhorum, Sampannang, et al, ; Sukhorum & Iamsaard, ; Sukhorum et al, ).…”

“…These proteins have also been found to be localised in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids, which are assumed to be important for spermatogenesis and androgen synthesis (Chaichun, Arun, Burawat, Kanla, & Iamsaard, ). The presence of TyrPho proteins in rat epididymal tissue and fluid has also been investigated (Sawatpanich et al, ), and improvements in testicular TyrPho protein changes have been associated with normal sperm and testosterone production (Burawat, Uabundit, Arun, Nualkaew, & Iamsaard, ; Iamsaard et al, , ; Iamsaard, Sukhorum, Sampannang, et al, ; Maneenin et al, ; Sampannang et al, ). Changes in TyrPho protein expression in the testis have been associated with stress‐related and diabetic conditions (Arun, Burawat, Sukhorum, Sampannang, Maneenin, et al, ; Arun, Burawat, Sukhorum, Sampannang, Uabundit, et al, ; Sampannang, Arun, Burawat, Sukhorum, & Iamsaard, ; Sampannang et al, ).…”

“…Changes in TyrPho protein expression in the testis have been associated with stress‐related and diabetic conditions (Arun, Burawat, Sukhorum, Sampannang, Maneenin, et al, ; Arun, Burawat, Sukhorum, Sampannang, Uabundit, et al, ; Sampannang, Arun, Burawat, Sukhorum, & Iamsaard, ; Sampannang et al, ). Moreover, some anticancer drugs, such as VPA, methotrexate, ketoconazole and mimosine, have been shown to alter the patterns of TyrPho proteins in the testis and epididymis (Burawat et al, ; Iamsaard et al, , , ; Maneenin et al, ; Sawatpanich et al, ; Sukhorum & Iamsaard, ). Although the toxic effects of VPA on some male reproductive organs (especially the testis and epididymis) have been demonstrated, its effect on the seminal vesicle, the biggest accessory organ that produces essential seminal plasma nutrients, has never been reported.…”

The Alterations of Microvasculature, Tyrosine Phosphorylation, and Lipid Peroxidation in Kidney of Rats Treated with Valproic Acid

“…Such tyrosine phosphorylated proteins are clearly demonstrated to be localized in highly division tissue such as seminiferous epithelium (Chaichun et al, 2017). Indeed, VPA is shown to alter the protein tyrosine phosphorylation especially in the reproductive system (Arad-Dann et al, 1993;Iamsaard et al, 2014;Iamsaard et al, 2015;Sukhorum et al, 2016;Iamsaard et al, 2017a,b;Maneenin et al, 2018). In this issue, the changes of such process in VPA treated animal models have never been elucidated.…”

Localization (and profiles) of tyrosinephosphorylated proteins in female reproductive organs of adult rats

“…In the male reproductive system, tyrosine-phosphorylated (TyrPho) proteins have been found to be localized in the Sertoli cells [5,6], spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and Leydig cells, as well as the spermatids of rat testes [6], the epididymis epithelium [7], and the seminal epithelium and fluid [8]. Previous reports have demonstrated that the patterns of expression of testicular TyrPho proteins can be altered by drugs or other chemical agents [9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Recently, Tongpan et al [8] showed that TyrPho proteins were localized in the seminal epithelium and present in the seminal fluid and blood plasma.…”