Protective effects of silymarin on testis histopathology, oxidative stress indicators, antioxidant defence enzymes and serum testosterone in cadmium‐treated mice

Abstract

Cadmium is known as an oxidative stress‐inducing factor. Silymarin extracted from Silybum marianum is regarded as a potent antioxidant. The present study investigated the preventing effects of silymarin on cadmium chloride‐induced toxicity in terms of testis histopathology and serum testosterone level as well as oxidative stress indicators in mice. In addition, the activities of antioxidant defence enzymes was evaluated. Adult male mice were divided into four groups (n = 6 in each group): (a) control; (b) cadmium chloride; (c) silymarin + cadmium chloride and (d) Silymarin. In this study, cadmium chloride significantly decreased the diameter and wall thickness of the seminiferous tubule, diameter of the spermatogonia nucleus and serum testosterone levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, in mice treated with this pollutant, a significant increase in malondialdehyde was observed while ferric reducing antioxidant power level, and the activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly reduced in the testis. In the silymarin + cadmium chloride group, silymarin could significantly reverse the toxic effects of cadmium chloride. The findings of this study showed that silymarin, as a potent antioxidant, can compensate the adverse effects of cadmium chloride on testis histopathology, testosterone level, oxidative stress indicators and antioxidant defence enzymes in mice.

Impact of silymarin on cadmium‐induced apoptosis in human spermatozoa

“…Silymarin is also known as a potent antioxidant and several studies confirmed its protective effects in heavy metals‐treated spermatozoa (Abedi et al, 2016; Eskandari & Momeni, 2016a, 2016b; Hamid, Ahmed, & Tayawi, 2018). Recently, we showed that in cadmium‐treated mice, silymarin was able to compensate for the toxic effects of this environmental pollutant on testis histopathology and serum testosterone levels (Faraji et al, 2019) as well as serum antioxidant defence enzymes (Farjad & Momeni, 2018).…”

“…The slides were allowed to air‐dry and then photographed with a light microscope at 1000X magnification. Diameter of sperm nuclei was measured in at least 200 spermatozoa using the Motic software (Faraji et al, 2019).…”

“…Silymarin is a flavonoid compound, and its antioxidant properties have been proven in some sort of organs' disorders such as lung, prostate, nervous system, pancreas, kidney and skin as well as various cancers (Esmaeil, Anaraki, Gharagozloo, & Moayedi, 2017). Poly‐phenolic structure and methoxy group on one of its phenolic rings have provided the antioxidant property of silymarin (Faraji, Momeni, & Malmir, 2019). Silymarin exerts its antioxidant properties by scavenging free radicals, increasing antioxidant defence enzymes levels and decreasing lipid peroxidation levels (Fraschini, Demartini, & Esposti, 2002).…”

Protective efficiency ofAshrasidate palm hydroalcoholic extract against diabetes‐induced testicular toxicity: A biochemical and stereological study

“…Catalase (CAT) activity was measured according to the UV colorimetric method described by Aebi (1984) at 240 nm using the oxidising reaction of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) and H 2 O 2 as substrate (Faraji, Momeni, & Malmir, 2019;Vijaya Bharathi et al, 2015). The obtained supernatant was used for determination of antioxidant enzyme activity and levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA activity).…”

“…The obtained supernatant was used for determination of antioxidant enzyme activity and levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA activity). Catalase (CAT) activity was measured according to the UV colorimetric method described by Aebi (1984) at 240 nm using the oxidising reaction of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) and H 2 O 2 as substrate (Faraji, Momeni, & Malmir, 2019;Vijaya Bharathi et al, 2015). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was determined according to the colorimetric method of Martin, Dailey, and Sugarman (1987) at 560 nm.…”