Oral supplementation of standardized extract of Withania somnifera protects against diabetes-induced testicular oxidative impairments in prepubertal rats

Abstract

Male reproductive dysfunctions and infertility are the common consequences of overt diabetes. Available evidence support oxidative stress to be the underlying mechanism for the manifestation of testicular complications during diabetes. In the present study, we assessed the attenuating effects of Withania somnifera root extract (WS) on diabetes-induced testicular oxidative disturbances in prepubertal rats. Four-week-old prepubertal rats were assigned into nondiabetic control, streptozotocin (STZ)-treated and STZ+WS supplemented (500 mg/kg b.w./d, oral, 15 days) groups. Experimental diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (90 mg/kg b.w). Terminally, all animals were killed, and markers of oxidative stress were determined in the testis cytosol and mitochondrial fraction. Severe hyperglycemia and regression in testis size were apparent in diabetic rats. A decline in antioxidant defenses with subsequent elevation in the generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation was discernible in testis cytosol and mitochondria of diabetic prepubertal rats, which was significantly reversed by WS. However, there was partial restoration of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, and 3-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities in testis of diabetic prepubertal rats administered with WS. Taken together, data accrued suggest the potential of WS to improve diabetes-induced testicular dysfunctions in prepubertal rats.

The calcium-sensing receptor participates in testicular damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

“…The number of germ cells and the ratio of germ cells/supporting cells are both reduced in the testes of diabetic rats 19. Oxidative stress, DNA damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction are involved in the damage to reproductive tissues in streptozotocin-induced diabetes 4520212222. Accordingly, the present study has demonstrated that testicular tissues from STZ-injected rats had higher MDA content and lower SOD and GSH-Px activity.…”

“…However, the mechanism underlying the diabetes-induced testicular damage remains unclear. Oxidative stress and apoptosis of germ cells are two major events involved in testicular damage induced by diabetes,45 and calcium homeostasis contributes to these mechanisms 6…”

Comparative evaluation of the sexual functions and NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways of some aphrodisiac herbal extracts in male rats

“…Even though an old study reported that it was shown as antifertility effective and mating behavior reducer in mice [52], recent studies reported its capability of combating stress-induced infertility and its protective effect to some reproductive endocrine dysfunctions in male rats were shown [53, 54]. Our study has been suggested Ashwagandha be effective as a sexual enhancer not as satisfactory as Tribulus terrestris but reasonably adequate.…”

Withania somnifera (Indian ginseng) in diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of scientific evidence from experimental research to clinical application

“…Figure , PRISMA flow‐chart of study selection, depicts the overall process of study selection. A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria; in‐vitro ( n = 6; Huerta, Mihalik, Becket, Maitin, & Vattem, ; Jonathan, Rivka, Avinoam, Lumír, & Nirit, ; Khan, Khan, & Ali, ; Nirupama, Devaki, Nirupama, & Yajurvedi, ; Shah, Khan, Vakil, & Qureshi, ; Singh, Joshi, & Jatwa, ); pre‐clinical ( n = 13 [mice model, n = 2; rat model, n = 11]; Anwer et al, ; Anwer, Sharma, Pillai, & Iqbal, ; Anwer, Sharma, Pillai, & Khan, ; Jain, Pandhi, Singh, & Malhotra, ; Kiasalari, Khalili, & Aghaei, ; Kyathanahalli, Manjunath, & Muralidhara, ; M. S. Parihar, Chaudhary, Shetty, & Hemnani, ; P. Parihar, Shetty, Ghafourifar, & Parihar, ; Sarangi, Jena, Sarangi, & Swain, ; Tekula, Khurana, Anchi, & Godugu, ; Thakur, Dey, Shyam Chatterjee, & Kumar, ; Udayakumar et al, , ); clinical ( n = 5; Agnihotri, Sontakke, Thawani, Saoji, & Goswami, ; Andallu & Radhika, ; Nayak, Nayak, Panda, & Das, ; Usharani, Fatima, Kumar, & Kishan, ; Usharani, Kishan, Fatima, & Kumar, ). The duration of included pre‐clinical studies ranged from 10 to 56 days, and clinical trials from 30 to 84 days which used authenticated extract of W. somnifera .…”

“…Kyathanahalli et al measured W. somnifera (dried powder; 0–500 μg) potential in scavenging DPPH, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hydroxyl radicals when added to the methanolic solution of DPPH or HOCl–taurine–KI mixture. The IC 50 of W. somnifera extract inhibited the stable‐free radical DPPH (365 μg/ml) and HOCl (100 μg/ml) as well significant dose‐dependent (440 μg/ml) deoxyribose inhibition (Kyathanahalli et al, ).…”