Extract of Xylopia aethiopica (Annonaceae) Protects Against Gamma-Radiation-Induced Testicular Damage in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Ionizing radiation is an important environmental risk factor and, a major therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of extract of Xylopia aethiopica (XA) on γ-radiation-induced testicular damage in rats. Vitamin C (VC) served as the reference antioxidant during the study. The study consists of 4 groups of 11 rats each. Group I received corn oil (vehicle), groups II and IV were pretreated with XA (250 mg/kg) and VC (250mg/kg) for 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after exposure to yradiation; group III was exposed to a single dose of γ-radiation (5 Gy).Biochemical analysis revealed that γ-irradiation caused a significant increase (p < .05) in serum and testicular lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels by 217% and 221%, respectively. Irradiated rats had markedly decreased testicular catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Irradiation resulted in 59% and 40% decreases in spermatozoa motility and live/dead sperm count, respectively, and a 161% increase in total sperm abnormalities. Histologically, testes of the irradiated rats showed extensive degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules and defoliation of spermatocytes. Supplementation of XA and VC reversed the adverse effects of γ-radiation on biochemical and histological indices of the rats. These findings demonstrated that Xylopia aethiopica has a protective effect by inhibiting oxidative damage in testes of irradiated rats.

The Potential Therapeutic Effect of Ferulic Acid in Mitigating Oxidative Stress Induced by γ-Irradiation in Male Rats

“…These results are comparable with those of Chen et al (2002). In this context, Adaramoye et al (2010) and El-Marakby et al (2016) verified that exposure to γ-radiation leads to a significant increase in testicular lipid peroxidation associated with a marked decline in testicular CAT. Furthermore, a number of studies have reported that FA could scavenge free radicals, increase reduced glutathione content and constrains lipid peroxidation in vivo and in vitro (Gohil et al, 2012).…”

“…The animals were exposed to a single dose of (5Gy) gamma rays with a dose rate of 0.125Gy/ min. This dose represents the sub-lethal dose for rats according to the study of Adaramoye et al (2010).…”

Antioxidant supplementation and purification of semen for improved artificial insemination in livestock species

“…X. aethiopica has been found to contain some phytochemicals, which exhibit a wide range of biological effects as a consequence of their antioxidant properties (78).…”

Hematological Indices for Mice Bearing Ehrlich Tumor When Treated by Liposomes Encapsulated Hemoglobin and Irradiation

“…In otherwise, obtained results of (LEBH+RT) group confirm that LEBH played an important role in healing tumor and improves radiation effect more than radiation effect alone (39) . Lipid peroxidation has been suggested as one of the molecular mechanisms involved in radiation induced damage (45) . In the present study, the increased level of MDA for control and RT groups an index of lipid peroxidation may be due to the free radicals attack on cell membrane phospholipids and circulating lipids (46) .…”