Protective effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice on testes against carbon tetrachloride intoxication in rats

Abstract

BackgroundPomegranate fruit has been extensively used as a natural medicine in many cultures. The present study was aimed at evaluating the protective effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress and testes injury in adult Wistar rats.MethodsTwenty eight Wistar albino male rats were divided equally into 4 groups for the assessment of protective potential of pomegranate juice. Rats of group I (control) received only vehicles and had free access to food and water. Rats of groups II and IV were treated with CCl4 (2 ml/kg bwt) via the intraperitoneal route once a week for ten weeks. The pomegranate juice was supplemented via drinking water 2 weeks before and concurrent with CCl4 treatment to group IV. Group III was supplemented with pomegranate juice for twelve weeks. The protective effects of pomegranate on serum sex hormones, oxidative markers, activities of antioxidant enzymes and histopathology of testes were determined in CCl4-induced reproductive toxicity in rats.ResultsPomegranate juice showed significant elevation in testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) those depleted by the injection of CCl4. Activity levels of endogenous testesticular antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione (GSH) contents were increased while lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO) were decreased with pomegranate juice. Moreover, degeneration of germ and Leydig cells along with deformities in spermatogenesis induced after CCl4 injections were restored with the treatment of pomegranate juice.ConclusionThe results clearly demonstrated that pomegranate juice augments the antioxidant defense mechanism against carbon tetrachloride-induced reproductive toxicity and provides evidence that it may have a therapeutic role in free radical mediated diseases.

Active Constituents of Pomegranates (Punica granatum) as Potential Candidates in the Management of Health through Modulation of Biological Activities

“…Study results revealed that pomegranate juice showed elevation in testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone depleted after the injection of carbon tetra chloride (CCL4).Moreover, result also demonstrated that degeneration of germ and Leydig cells along with deformities in spermatogenesis due to the CCl 4 injections were restored with the treatment of pomegranate juice. 41 Another finding confirmed that extract and ascorbic acid administration reduced the deleterious effect of lead acetate on daily sperm production and epididymal sperm number. 42 Experiment was made to examine the effects of pomegranate juice consumption on sperm quality, spermatogenic cell density.…”

Protective effects of Vitamin E on CCl4-induced testicular toxicity in male rats

“…This explains the increased number of the proposed natural and synthetic anti-oxidative agents that treat reproductive hormonal imbalance and infertility induced by oxidative stress (35). Furthermore, recent results suggested that natural products containing anti-oxidants have the ability to protect testis against oxidative damages, lipid peroxidation, and impairment in anti-oxidant status induced by CCl 4 (3,13,35).…”

“…Spermatogenesis is orchestrated by two main regulations: endocrine [luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from pituitary gland] and local intercellular communications mediated by a complex interplay of hormones and testicular growth factors, among which testosterone is crucial for testicular functioning (3). Recent studies concluded that oxidative stress, exhibited by exposure to toxic chemicals, causes a major damage to sperm quality by disrupting the anti-oxidant and reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance and thus resulting in abnormalities of spermatogenesis and male infertility (22,32).…”

Investigating the Ameliorative Potential of the Aloe barbadensis Aqueous Fraction on Oxidative Stress Markers and Biochemical Parameters in Cadmium-Intoxicated Rabbits

“…Therefore, there is dire need to use some benign therapies such as ethnomedicines. Traditionally, ethnomedicines are being used extensively in the IndoPak region and elsewhere, mainly due to their costeffectiveness, easy accessibility, and perceived fewer side effects [10][11]. The mechanism of action of these herbal drugs is different in many respects from that of the synthetic drugs/pure compounds.…”