Antiperoxidative Activity of Tetracarpidium conophorum Leaf Extract in Reproductive Organs of Male Rats

Roasted cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut-enhanced diet forestalls cisplatin-initiated brain harm in rats

The incessant dose constraining symptom of the chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin is neurotoxicity. This examination tried to explore the neuroprotective impact of roasted cashew nut-enhanced diet against brain deficits related with treatment with cisplatin. Rats were separated in to six groups: Control, CIS (cisplatin [7 mg/kg body weight, i.p]), CIS +10% CN (cisplatin plus 10% roasted cashew nut), CIS +20% CN (cisplatin plus 20% roasted cashew nut), 10% CN (10% roasted cashew nut) and 20% CN (20% roasted cashew nut) for 28 days. Key enzymes associated with brain function, including cholinesterases (AChE and BChE), monoaminergic enzyme (MAO), arginase, and adenosine deaminase (ADA), were investigated after the treatment. The following oxidative stress indicators were also measured in the rat brain: glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total thiol (T-SH), non-protein thiol (NPSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD). Our outcomes demonstrated that roasted cashew nut enhanced diet showed inhibitory impact on activities of AChE, BChE, ADA, MAO and arginase in cisplatin-induced rats. The roasted cashew nut supplemented diet also boosted redox equilibrium and displayed protection against cispaltin-induced oxidative damage to rats' brains by an increase in SOD, CAT, GST and GPx activities, TAC, T-SH, NPSH and NO levels as well as a considerable drop in ROS and RBARS levels. Roasted cashew nut enhanced diet additionally forestalled neuronal degeneration in rat brain. Thus, roasted cashew nuts could be used as a nutraceutical or functional food to treat cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity.

Practical applications

The results show that increasing roasted cashew nut consumption can significantly improve antioxidant status, reduce lipid peroxidation, and suppress cholinesterase, adenosine deaminase, monoamine oxidase, and arginase activities in the brain under cisplatin-induced circumstances.

Phytomedicinal therapeutics for male infertility: critical insights and scientific updates

Infertility is a significant cause of anxiety, depression, and social stigma among couples and families. In such cases, male reproductive factors contribute widely to the extent of 20-70%. Male infertility is a multifactorial disease with several complications contributing to its diagnosis. Although its management encompasses both modern and traditional medicine arenas, the first line of treatment, adopted by most males, focuses on the reasonably successful medicinal plant-based conventional therapies. Phyto-therapeutics, which relies on active ingredients from traditionally known herbs, influences sexual behavior and male fertility factors. The potency of these phyto-actives depends on their preparation methods and forms of consumption, including decoctions, extracts, semi-purified compounds, etc., as inferred from in vitro and in vivo (laboratory animal models and human) studies. The mechanisms of action therein involve the testosterone pathway for stimulation of spermatogenesis, reduction of oxidative stress, inhibition of inflammation, activation of signaling pathways in the testes [extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK)/protein kinase B(PKB)/transformation of growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1)/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells NF-kB signaling pathways] and mediation of sexual behavior. This review critically focuses on the medicinal plants and their potent actives, along with the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the successful management of male infertility. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on medicinal plants that improve male reproductive health.

Effect of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut-supplemented diet on steroidogenic enzymes, hormonal and oxidative imbalances, and sperm parameters in cisplatin-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats

Cisplatin (CP) is a chemotherapeutic/anticancer drug culpable in sperm and testicular damage, but the use of dietary patterns has been reported to averse this effect. To date, no report on the use of roasted cashew nut-supplemented diets (RCNSD) against chemotherapy-induced testicular damage has been presented. In this study, the effect of 10% and 20% RCNSD on reproductive hormones, sperm parameters, testicular and epididymal antioxidant status, and steroidogenic enzymes activities in CP-induced rats were determined. Interestingly, these parameters were boosted, but with a decrement in radical species level in the testes/epididymis of CP-induced rats fed with RCNSD as against the untreated CP-induced rats. The modulatory effect of RCNSD on the tested reproductive parameters in studied tissues could be among the mechanism of action, by which RCNSD mitigates andrological toxicity. Hence, RCNSD could be harnessed as a functional food/nutraceutical agent for alleviating the andrological toxicity of CP-induced male reproduction. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Consumption of cashew nuts has been a great benefit to human health, as a result of its richness in nutritional constituents including biologically active amino acids, tocopherols, fatty acids, polyphenols, and selenium, among others. Cashew nuts are mostly consumed fried/roasted, with yoghurt, as a paste, or used as an ingredient in confectionery products. The folkloric use of cashew nuts in the management of cardiovascular diseases, male reproductive disorders, and diabetes has been reported. In this study, the ability of roasted cashew nut-supplemented diets to modulate reproductive hormones, sperm parameters, testicular and epididymal antioxidant status, and steroidogenic enzymes activities in CP-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats was revealed, thus, indicating its possible use, clinically, in the management of reproductive toxicity induced by cancer drugs.

Effect of Co-administration of Agnus castus Aqueous Leaf Extract and Cadmium Chloride on Testicular Function Indices

Background: Cadmium toxicity is an environmental health menace in developing countries, which can result in damage to the male reproductive system. The mechanisms of cadmium toxicity include an increase in lipid peroxidation, depletion of glutathione, reduction in protein-bound sulfhydryl groups, and increase of oxidative stress. Agnus castus has been differently reported for its strong antioxidant potential and reproductive-enhancing properties. These two properties make the plant viable for the possible amelioration of cadmium toxicity. Objectives: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Agnus castus aqueous leaf extract on the testicular function indices in cadmium chloride-treated rats. Methods: Twenty-five male Wistar rats (100 - 160) g, Rattus norvegicus strain, were randomly distributed into five different groups, each containing five animals. The animals were grouped as follows. Group A (control group) received distilled water, and group B received 6.5 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride. Groups C, D, and E received 6.5 mg/kg body weight of cadmium chloride each together with 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract of Agnus castus, respectively. The administration was done by oral gavage, once daily for 21 days. The animals were finally sacrificed on day 22. The serum was collected, and the testis was excised for testicular function indices, hormonal assays, and antioxidant activities. Results: Exposure to cadmium chloride caused a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the weight of the testes and antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione) compared to the control group. However, co-treatment with cadmium chloride and Agnus castus leaves resulted in the amelioration of cadmium-induced reduction in testicular weight and antioxidant enzymes. Exposure to cadmium chloride caused a significant decrease in testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone when compared to the control group. Co-treatment with cadmium chloride and Agnus castus increased the levels of glycogen, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone in the rats’ testes. Conclusions: The aqueous leaf extract of Agnus castus displayed a protective role in testicular function and antioxidants in Wistar rats against cadmium chloride toxicity, compared to control rats that received distilled water only.

Compound Xuanju Capsule combined with western medicine for the treatment of male oligoasthenotspermia: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Oligoasthenotspermia is a condition in which the number and motility of sperm in the semen of fertile men are lower than the normal level. Oligoasthenotspermia not only causes damage to the reproductive system, but also causes infertility in severe cases. Compound Xuanju capsule is a kind of Chinese patent medicine. Traditional medicine believes that compound Xuanju capsule can nourish kidney Yang, benefit kidney essence, improve semen quality, and treat infertility caused by oligoasthenotspermia. Clinical practice shows that compound Xuanju capsule combined with western medicine has a good therapeutic effect on male oligoasthenotspermia, but there is no evidence of evidence-based medicine. The purpose of this study is to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of compound Xuanju capsule combined with western medicine in the treatment of male oligoasthenotspermia, and to improve the evidence-based basis for the clinical application of compound Xuanju capsule in the treatment of male oligoasthenotspermia.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed by retrieving on English database (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library) and Chinese database (CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu (VIP), CBM). Besides, manually search for Google and Baidu academic of compound XuanJu capsule combined western medicine in the treatment of male oligoasthenotspermia in randomized controlled clinical research. The retrieval time limit was from the establishment of the database to July 2020. Two researchers independently extracted and evaluated the quality of the data in the included study. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.3 software, no language restrictions.

RESULTS

In this study, the efficacy and safety of compound Xuanju capsule combined with western medicine in the treatment of male oligoasthenotspermia were evaluated by the total effective rate, semen parameters and other indexes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will provide reliable evidence-based evidence for the clinical application of compound Xuanju capsule combined with western medicine in the treatment of male oligoasthenotspermia.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Private information from individuals will not be published. This systematic review also does not involve endangering participant rights. Ethical approval was not required. The results may be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated at relevant conferences.OSF Registration number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/2PM8T.

African walnuts attenuate ectopic fat accumulation and associated peroxidation and oxidative stress in monosodium glutamate-obese Wistar rats

AIMS

African walnuts were previously shown to modulate hepatic lipid bio-accumulation in obesity. Herein, we investigated the impact of the nuts on fat accumulation in adipose and ectopic regions, and associated oxidatiive stress status in obese rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Whole ethanol extract (WE) of the nuts, and its liquid-liquid fractions-ethyl acetate (ET) and residue (RES) were separately administered to obese rats for 6 weeks. The normal (NC) and obese (OC) controls received normal saline and the standard control (SC), orlistat (5.14 mg/kg b.w.), during the same period. Thereafter, the animals were euthanized and the adipose, brain, kidneys and heart tissues were studied.

RESULTS

The change in body weight to naso-anal length which increased by 63.52 % in OC compared to NC (p < 0.05), decreased by 57.88, 85.80 and 70.20 % in WE, ET and RES-treated groups, respectively, relative to the OC (p < 0.05). Also, adipose tissue weights were lowered upon treatment with the extracts and fractions versus OC (p < 0.05). Total lipids, phospholipids, triacylglycerol and cholesterol concentrations in the studied tissues which were higher in OC (p < 0.05) were lowered (p < 0.05) and compared favorably with SC. Further, malondialdehyde levels in the tissues were lowered upon treatment, compared to the OC (p < 0.05). Glutathione level and activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S-transferase which were decreased (p < 0.05) in OC, were restored upon treatment with the extracts, relative to the obese control (p < 0.05).

SIGNIFICANCE

African walnuts assuaged lipogenesis, oxidative stress and peroxidation in extra-hepatic tissues of obese rats, hence, may attenuate ectopic fat accumulation and its associated pathogenesis.

Phenolic analysis and erectogenic function of African Walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) seeds: The impact of the seed shell on biological activity

This study investigated the erectogenic potential of African walnut seed (AWS). The extract from AWS cooked with/without shell interacted with phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), arginase, angiotensin-I converting enzymes (ACE), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE); enzymes associated with erectile dysfunction (ED) and Fe²⁺ -induced malonaldehyde (MDA) production in the isolated penile tissue. The results showed that the extracts inhibited the enzymes and MDA production, but Walnut cooked with shell had the highest effect. This agreed with increased phenolic acids and flavonoids, found in the AWS cooked with the shell, compared with that cooked without shell. The inhibition of enzymes and antioxidative potentials could be among the possible mechanisms of actions of AWS in the management/treatment of ED. However, cooking walnut seed with the shell seem to be a contributing factor, as this could prevent possible leaching out of the phytochemicals that could be responsible for these biological effects. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Walnut seed possesses a high content of phenolic compounds and inhibit enzymes relevant to the management of erectile dysfunction. Traditionally, Walnut seed is being cooked with/without the shell and consumed for the purpose of alternative medicine in folklore. Our investigation revealed the possible mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect Walnut seed in the management of ED, but the impact of the shell during cooking contributes to this effect. This result will inform the consumers and food scientist on the importance of cooking Walnut seed with the shell in order to maximize its nutraceutical values.

Ethanol-induced male infertility: Effects of aqueous leaf extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum

This study investigated the effects of Tetracarpidium conophorum leaf extract on infertility induced by ethanol in male rats. Thirty rats were randomly divided into six groups of five animals each: Group 1 (positive control) received 0.9% saline only; Group 2 (ethanol alone) were given only 30% ethanol orally at 7 ml/kg body weight per day, thrice in a week; groups 3, 4 and 5 were given ethanol and co-treated with 50, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight of leaf extract, respectively, while Group 6 was given ethanol and co-treated with a fertility drug, clomiphene citrate. Ethanol treatment resulted in significant (p < .05) decrease in LDH activity, G-6PDH activity, glycogen content, 3β and 17β HSD activities and testicular and epididymal Zn and Se contents and furthermore decrease in testicular sperm count, viability and marked increment in total sperm abnormalities, rate of sperm analysis parameters and consequently decreased reproductive hormone levels. Interestingly, co-administration of ethanol with either T. conophorum extract or drug almost ameliorated the toxic assault imposed by ethanol on reproductive organs and improved seminal qualities of the rats.

Tetracarpidium conophorum ameliorates oxidative reproductive toxicity induced by ethanol in male rats

Background

Tetracarpidium conophorum (Mull. Arg.) Hutch. & Dalz is one of the many medicinal plants used for ages in folklore as male fertility enhancers. The current study evaluates the effect of the plant leaf extract on alcohol - induced reproductive toxicity in male rats.

Methods

Thirty rats were randomly divided into six groups of five animals each; Group 1 (positive control) received normal saline only; Group 2 (ethanol alone) were given only 30 % ethanol orally at 7 ml/kg body weight per day, thrice in a week; Group 3, 4, 5 were given ethanol and co-treated with 50 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg body weight of leaf extract respectively while Group 6 were given ethanol and co-treated with a fertility drug, clomiphene citrate. All the drugs were given daily and the experiment lasted for twenty one consecutive days.

Results

Alcohol ingestion resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in water, food intake and marked elevation of lipid peroxidation as assessed by the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the reproductive tissues. Precisely, MDA level was elevated in the testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland by 81 %, 63 %, 95 % and 91 %, respectively. Furthermore, levels of total protein, reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the reproductive tissues were significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced in ethanol-ingested rats. Interestingly, co-administration of T. conophorum with ethanol led to almost complete inhibition of lipid peroxidation thereby enhancing antioxidant status of the reproductive tissues.

Conclusion

Overall, T. conophorum ameliorates oxidative reproductive toxicity induced by ethanol in male rats and its ameliorative effect comparable well with the fertility drug, clomiphene citrate.