Evaluation of Selected Folk Herbs on the Fertility of Sprague Dawley Male Rats: Biochemical, Histological, and Molecular Investigations
Scientists have shown great interest in traditional plant extracts, particularly <i>Lepidium sativum</i> (LS), <i>Origanum majorana</i> (OM), <i>Ferula hermonis</i> (FH), and <i>Eruca sativa</i> (ES), which are frequ ently used to improve health. Recen...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Rana R. Khalaf Salma Khazaal Noura S. Abouzeinab Mahmoud I. Khalil |
| author_facet | Rana R. Khalaf Salma Khazaal Noura S. Abouzeinab Mahmoud I. Khalil |
| author_sort | Rana R. Khalaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Scientists have shown great interest in traditional plant extracts, particularly <i>Lepidium sativum</i> (LS), <i>Origanum majorana</i> (OM), <i>Ferula hermonis</i> (FH), and <i>Eruca sativa</i> (ES), which are frequ ently used to improve health. Recently, attention has been directed toward their influence on spermatogenesis and male fertility. Hence, the objective of this study was to explore their impact on male rats’ fertility. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) were determined, along with the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds. Oral administration of aqueous extracts was performed individually or as a mixture (MIX) at a dose of 100 mg/kg in 28 male Sprague Dawley rats over a 60-day period. Organ weight, sex hormone concentrations, sperm parameters, oxidative stress markers, histological and morphometric analysis, and protein expression levels were investigated. OM and MIX showed the highest TPC and antioxidant activities, and MIX possessed the highest polyphenolic constituents. Elevated serum testosterone, epididymal sperm concentration, testes glutathione levels, and histomorphometric parameters were manifested in all groups, especially in MIX. MIX group also displayed elevated levels of vimentin, protein kinase B, and mTOR expression in the testes, complemented by declined expression of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN). In conclusion, these findings propose that these extracts, especially MIX followed by OM, enhance fertility by stimulating spermatogenesis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4b0426513a6d4f4bad255941c0abc76f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4b0426513a6d4f4bad255941c0abc76f2025-08-20T02:56:48ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292024-12-011412162010.3390/life14121620Evaluation of Selected Folk Herbs on the Fertility of Sprague Dawley Male Rats: Biochemical, Histological, and Molecular InvestigationsRana R. Khalaf0Salma Khazaal1Noura S. Abouzeinab2Mahmoud I. Khalil3Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 115020 Riad El Solh, Beirut 11072809, LebanonDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 115020 Riad El Solh, Beirut 11072809, LebanonDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 115020 Riad El Solh, Beirut 11072809, LebanonDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 115020 Riad El Solh, Beirut 11072809, LebanonScientists have shown great interest in traditional plant extracts, particularly <i>Lepidium sativum</i> (LS), <i>Origanum majorana</i> (OM), <i>Ferula hermonis</i> (FH), and <i>Eruca sativa</i> (ES), which are frequ ently used to improve health. Recently, attention has been directed toward their influence on spermatogenesis and male fertility. Hence, the objective of this study was to explore their impact on male rats’ fertility. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) were determined, along with the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds. Oral administration of aqueous extracts was performed individually or as a mixture (MIX) at a dose of 100 mg/kg in 28 male Sprague Dawley rats over a 60-day period. Organ weight, sex hormone concentrations, sperm parameters, oxidative stress markers, histological and morphometric analysis, and protein expression levels were investigated. OM and MIX showed the highest TPC and antioxidant activities, and MIX possessed the highest polyphenolic constituents. Elevated serum testosterone, epididymal sperm concentration, testes glutathione levels, and histomorphometric parameters were manifested in all groups, especially in MIX. MIX group also displayed elevated levels of vimentin, protein kinase B, and mTOR expression in the testes, complemented by declined expression of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN). In conclusion, these findings propose that these extracts, especially MIX followed by OM, enhance fertility by stimulating spermatogenesis.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/12/1620fertilityspermatogenesishistologytestosteroneWestern blottingherbal medicine |
| spellingShingle | Rana R. Khalaf Salma Khazaal Noura S. Abouzeinab Mahmoud I. Khalil Evaluation of Selected Folk Herbs on the Fertility of Sprague Dawley Male Rats: Biochemical, Histological, and Molecular Investigations Life fertility spermatogenesis histology testosterone Western blotting herbal medicine |
| title | Evaluation of Selected Folk Herbs on the Fertility of Sprague Dawley Male Rats: Biochemical, Histological, and Molecular Investigations |
| title_full | Evaluation of Selected Folk Herbs on the Fertility of Sprague Dawley Male Rats: Biochemical, Histological, and Molecular Investigations |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Selected Folk Herbs on the Fertility of Sprague Dawley Male Rats: Biochemical, Histological, and Molecular Investigations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Selected Folk Herbs on the Fertility of Sprague Dawley Male Rats: Biochemical, Histological, and Molecular Investigations |
| title_short | Evaluation of Selected Folk Herbs on the Fertility of Sprague Dawley Male Rats: Biochemical, Histological, and Molecular Investigations |
| title_sort | evaluation of selected folk herbs on the fertility of sprague dawley male rats biochemical histological and molecular investigations |
| topic | fertility spermatogenesis histology testosterone Western blotting herbal medicine |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/12/1620 |
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