Ethanol Extract ofAllium sativumAttenuates Testicular and Liver Toxicity Induced by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin in Rats

Herbal foodstuffs in Avicenna's recommended diet to improve sperm quality and increase male fertility; an evidence-based approach

Attention to diet was considered important issues in improvement of men infertility in Persian Medicine (PM). The purpose of this study was to extract herbal foodstuffs introduced by Avicenna, one of the greatest PM physicians to improve the semen production and to provide evidence of their impact on the basis of current studies."Canon of Medicine", the most important Avecinna's book, was searched with keywords equivalent to semen, fertility and infertility, main herbal foodstuffs were extracted and was searched with keywords sperm, semen, infertility, and fertility in Google scholar, PubMed and Scopus databases. Manuscripts from 1950 up to December 2019 were selected and reviewed. Almond, Onion, Chickpea, Garlic, Coconut, Palm date, Sesame, Fenugreek, Carrot, Fig, Grapes, Pistachio, Hazelnut and Walnut are among main foodstuffs which recommended by Avicenna and there is also evidence that they have positive effects on testosterone production and improvement of various sperm parameters, including count, motility and morphology. Containing large amount of different macro and micronutrients such as vitamins including vit B, C, A and E, minerals such as Mg, Se, Zn, Cu and Fe, important unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic and oleic acids, amino acids such as lysine and arginine and phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavonoids, triterpenes and steroids can be considered as a main factor in the effectiveness of these foodstuffs. Designing a diet based on the fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds that Avicenna has recommended, may be effective in treating male infertility but further studies are needed to clarify this issue. Research on the effectiveness of his other recommended foodsuffs may also offer new treatments and supplements for this purpose.

Animal Toxicology Studies on the Male Reproductive Effects of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin: Data Analysis and Health Effects Evaluation

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a well-known environmental poison that exist in the environment for many years. However, its effect on the male reproductive system has not been clearly stated. We conducted a meta-analysis of the effect of TCDD on the male reproductive system of rodents about TCDD. Results showed that that TCDD exposure reduced the testis weight (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.035, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.046 to -0.025), sperm count (WMD: -35, 95% CI: -42.980 to -27.019), and blood testosterone concentration (WMD: -0.171, 95% CI: -0.269 to -0.073). According to our research results, TCDD can cause damage to the male reproductive system of rodents through direct or indirect exposure. In order to further explore the potential hazards of TCDD to humans, more human-related research needs to be carried out.

Ameliorative effects of Spirulina maxima and Allium sativum on lead acetate-induced testicular injury in male albino rats with respect to caspase-3 gene expression

The present study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effects of Allium sativum (garlic) as well as Spirulina maxima on lead acetate toxicity in rat testes. Forty adult, male, albino rats were divided into four groups (10 rats/each): group I served as the control; group II contained rats that received lead acetate (100 mg/kg); group III contained rats that received both lead acetate (100 mg/kg) and garlic (600 mg/kg); and group IV contained rats that received both lead acetate (100 mg/kg) and spirulina (500 mg/kg). All treatments were performed daily for one month. Serum testosterone levels, oxidative stress parameters, expression of the caspase-3 gene and histological, histo-morphometric and ultrastructure alterations in the testes were investigated. The results revealed that the Pb-treated group exhibited a significant increase in MDA concentration concomitantly with a decrease in serum testosterone levels, antioxidative marker levels and caspase-3 gene expression. Several histological and histo-morphometric alterations were observed in this group. Co-administration with spirulina or garlic caused a significant increase in testosterone levels, testicular SOD and CAT activities, and caspase-3 gene expression and a decrease in MDA levels, with improvement in histological and histo-morphometric alterations. These results suggested that spirulina was more effective at providing protection against Pb-induced reproductive damage in rats than garlic, indicating the beneficial role of spirulina in improvement of spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis after lead exposure.

Detoxification effects of phytonutrients against environmental toxicants and sharing of clinical experience on practical applications

According to the Food and Health Bureau and Trade and Industry Department of the Hong Kong Government, 90 % of the total food supply in Hong Kong was imported from the Mainland China. In addition, the hidden or illegal use of prohibited pesticides, food adulteration (e.g., using industrial salt in food processing, using gutter oil as cooking oil), and pollutions were periodically reported by the media. Excessive exposure to toxic heavy metals or persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from diet or environmental is inevitable amid industrialization and pollution. Understanding of the detoxification ability among nutrients in plant-based food (i.e., phytonutrients in green tea, onion, garlic, coriander, and turmeric) offers therapeutic and preventive effects against the poisoning effects due to these pollutants. Oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory actions are the common mechanisms for heavy metals or POPs toxicities, while phytonutrients counteracts these cellular insults by anti-oxidation, upregulation of anti-inflammatory pathways, and chelation.

Protective role of diallyl tetrasulfide on cadmium-induced testicular damage in adult rats: A biochemical and histological study

Cadmium (Cd)-induced oxidative damage is the most serious problem that leads to reproductive system failure in both human and animals. Our previous studies indicate that diallyl tetrasulfide (DTS) from garlic has the cytoprotective and antioxidant activity against Cd-induced toxicity in vivo and in vitro. The present investigation was carried out to find the influence of DTS on peroxidative damage induced by Cd in rat testes. The Cd-exposed rat testis showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in testes to body weight ratio, along with a significant (p < 0.05) increase in Cd accumulation, lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl levels. In Cd-exposed rats, we also observed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the activities of antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and glutathione metabolizing (glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) enzymes as well as reduced levels of non-enzymic (reduced glutathione, ascorbate and total sulphydryl groups) antioxidants. In contrast, treatment with DTS (40 mg/kg body weight orally) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the accumulation of Cd and lipid peroxidation markers and also significantly improved the activities of antioxidant defense system in testes. Testicular protection by DTS is further substantiated by remarkable reduction of Cd-induced pathological changes. Our study has revealed that DTS renders protection against Cd-induced testicular injury by reducing Cd-mediated oxidative damage.

Ajoene, a stable garlic by-product, inhibits high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis and oxidative injury through LKB1-dependent AMPK activation

Hepatic steatosis, a hepatic component of metabolic syndrome, is common and may progress to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. The liver X receptor-α (LXRα)-sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) pathway plays a key role in hepatic steatosis. This study investigated the potential of ajoene, a stable garlic by-product, to inhibit high fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis and the underlying mechanism. Ajoene treatment attenuated fat accumulation and induction of lipogenic genes in the liver of HFD-fed mice. Blood biochemical analyses and histopathologic examinations showed that ajoene prevented liver injury with the inhibition of oxidative stress, as evidenced by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances formation and nitrotyrosinylation. Moreover, ajoene treatment inhibited LXRα agonist (T0901317)-mediated SREBP-1c activation, and transactivation of the lipogenic target genes in hepatocytes. Ajoene was found to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) via LKB1, responsible for the inhibition of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase-1 (S6K1). The ability of ajoene to repress T0901317-induced SREBP-1c expression was antagonized by inhibition of AMPK or activation of S6K1, supporting the role of these kinases in the antisteatotic effect. Our results demonstrate that ajoene has an effect of activating AMPK through LKB1 and inhibit S6K1 activity, contributing to the prevention of SREBP-1c-mediated hepatic lipogenesis via the inhibition of LXRα activity.