Phytochemical profile and protective effect of Ocimum basilicum aqueous extract in doxorubicin/irradiation-induced testicular injury

Abstract

Objectives Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy usually associated with various comorbidities especially on rapidly proliferating cells as testis. This study aimed to characterize main constituents of Ocimum basilicum L. (OB) aqueous extract and examine its protective effect on doxorubicin/irradiation (DOXO/IR)‐induced testicular injury in rats. Methods Spectrophotometric analysis showed considerable amount of polyphenolic (146.31 µg/mg) and flavonoid contents (28.63 µg/mg); UPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS analysis revealed that the major flavonoid was apigenin‐O‐glucoside (7.53%) followed by luteolin (5.94%), while rosmarinic acid was the major polyphenolic (15.76%) followed by caftaric acid (9.39%); rutin and querctin were also present and were quantified using high‐performance liquid chromatography. Administration of OB extract (200 mg/kg per day; p.o.) to DOXO/IR rats resulted in marked improvement of associated testicular damage. Key findings Ocimum basilicum L. significantly decreased testicular levels of nuclear factor‐kappa B and B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl2)‐associated protein X, along with caspase‐3 immunohistochemical staining. In addition, OB elevated testicular total antioxidant capacity, nuclear erythroid‐related factor‐2, Bcl2 and testosterone contents and Ki‐67 immunohistochemical staining. Such changes were also accompanied by restoration of testicular architecture. Conclusions The study highlights the protective role of OB aqueous extract in hampering most of the harmful chemotherapy/radiotherapy‐induced outcomes via its antioxidant, antiapoptotic and cell regeneration abilities. Such findings may offer an incentive in expanding its use during chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Extraction Processes Affect the Composition and Bioavailability of Flavones from Lamiaceae Plants: A Comprehensive Review

“…Less used, but also effective in the extraction of flavones, are solvents such as diethyl ether, which is useful to extract such flavones as nevadensin and salvigenin in O. basilicum [105]. Fewer studies were observed with other solvents such as hot water extract that showed similar results to hydromethanolic and hydroethanolic extractions in the same plant [106]. On the other hand, some studies further fractionated the extract to isolate the compounds, as seen in the infusion of O. campechianum [107] and the methanolic extract of O. gratissimum and O. sanctum [100,101].…”

Effects of hazelnut supplemented diet on doxorubicin‐induced damage of reproductive system in male rats

“…It was suggested that the damages observed in the histological examinations may be due to the direct or indirect effects of doxorubicin (Çeribaşı et al., 2012). Some researchers have reported that doxorubicin leads to inducing chromosomal aberrations in spermatogonial cells, inhibiting DNA synthesis by interacting with DNA backbone leading to inhibition of the progression of topoisomerase II enzyme, interfering with cell divisions, disturbing pathways involved in stress/cell death, led to germ cell loss, and ultimately resulting in testicular dysfunctions (Ahmed et al., 2019; Ibrahim et al., 2020). In addition, Boussada et al.…”

Modulation of miRNAs by vitamin C in H2O2‑exposed human umbilical vein endothelial cells

“…cASP-9/3 plays a critical role in apoptotic signaling in the mitochondria (47). The activation of cASP-9/3 mediates cell apoptosis in various cell types (48)(49)(50). In addition, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-d3 induces neutrophil apoptosis in periodontitis with type 2 diabetes mellitus patients via the p38/MAPK pathway (51).…”