Antioxidant Effect of the Castanea sativa Mill. Leaf Extract on Oxidative Stress Induced upon Human Spermatozoa

Abstract

This study was aimed at evaluating in vitro the effects of a 75% v/v ethanolic extract of leaves of Castanea sativa Mill. (var. Bastarda Rossa, Mount Amiata, Tuscany, Italy) on ejaculated human sperm. Total polyphenols and total flavonoids contained in the extract were determined by a colorimetric assay and HPLC-DAD. The DPPH test and electrochemistry were utilized to study the antioxidant activity of the extract. Swim-up-selected sperm from 8 healthy men were treated with the C. sativa leaf extract at different dilutions (1 : 100, 1 : 200, and 1 : 500), and sperm motility was assessed following the WHO guidelines. Swim-up-selected spermatozoa were incubated with 100 μM H2O2 to induce lipid peroxidation (LPO) and with H2O2 and the leaf extract (1 : 100, 1 : 200, and 1 : 500) to test the antioxidant activity of the extract. The levels of LPO were determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. The treated samples were also analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for ultrastructural evaluation. The chemical analysis showed that one-third ca. of the polyphenols in the C. sativa extract were made up of flavonoids, with hyperoside present in high concentration. A good antioxidant activity was demonstrated by both the DPPH test and electrochemical analysis. The C. sativa leaf extract did not decrease sperm motility at all tested dilutions. Treatment with H2O2 alone caused a significant increment in MDA levels (P=0.006993), while the treatment with H2O2 plus C. sativa extract diluted to 1 : 100 and 1 : 200 significantly reduced MDA levels (P=0.01476 and P=0.01571, respectively), with respect to H2O2 alone. TEM analysis confirmed the protective effect of the extract on damage induced by LPO, in particular that occurring at the plasma membrane level. The C. sativa leaf extract could be used in human and farm animal protocols for gamete handling, such as techniques of assisted reproduction and cryopreservation of semen, all conditions in which oxidative stress is exacerbated.

Effect of Hesperetin Treatment on Blood Glucose Level, Spermatozoa Quality, and Spermatozoa Quantity in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Mice

“…Flavonoid increases spermatozoa quantity because of hypoglycemic activity; flavonoid reduces the blood glucose level in diabetic mice (Shi et al, 2019). Phytochemicals such as flavonoids increase the number of spermatozoa in mice due to antioxidant activity in which they neutralize free radicals (Biagi et al, 2019). Antioxidants are hydrogen and electron donors for free (Aryal et al, 2019).…”

Chemical Profile, Antioxidant, Anti-Proliferative, Anticoagulant and Mutagenic Effects of a Hydroalcoholic Extract of Tuscan Rosmarinus officinalis

“…Herbal extracts bioactivity depends on their chemical profile and the choice of the solvent is crucial in extraction processes as it directly affects the chemical composition of the final extracts and the mass extraction yield. Among the alternative solvents available for plants extraction, hydro-alcoholic mixtures are good candidates since they are rather few selective and let to extract a wide range of compounds [34][35][36][37]. Considering global extraction yields of Rosmarinus officinalis, a ratio ranging from 50% to 80% ethanol gives highest mass extraction yields and total content in target compounds in comparison to lower Et-OH values.…”

Supplementation of cryoprotectant withPinus massonianabark extract improves human sperm vitality and fertility potential

“…Therefore, combined with our own results, we hypothesize that the improvement effect of PMBE on cryo‐resuscitated sperm quality may be produced by a reduced oxidative stress level, which is achieved by neutralizing the ROS produced during cryo‐resuscitation and by protecting the intracellular antioxidant components. To verify this hypothesis, hydrogen peroxide was used to create a model of oxidative stress damage 19 . As a result of improving the level of oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide, the relative vitality rate was significantly increased in the PMBE group.…”

“…To reduce oxidative stress and improve the sperm quality after resuscitation, antioxidants such as glutathione, melatonin, and mitochondrial directed antioxidants have been used as pretreatments before cryopreservation or as additive ingredients in cryoprotectants 14‐18 . A number of natural extracts with antioxidant activity have also been used to reduce oxidative stress damage in spermatozoa 19,20 . However, the proteins and mechanism involved in this process have not been fully investigated.…”