Preventive and therapeutic effects of Nasturtium officinale hydroalcoholic extract on cyclophosphamide-induced testicular toxicity in rats
Objective: Cyclophosphamide (Cy) as an alkylating chemotherapeutic agent with broad-spectrum efficacy in cancer treatment. Despite its wide spectrum of clinical usage, off-target multiple organ toxicity such as sperm and testicular injury is one of its toxic side effects. Since the Nasturtium offici...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ajp.mums.ac.ir/article_25887_bf5a30d7bd3eb61ba77c33a427162910.pdf |
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| Summary: | Objective: Cyclophosphamide (Cy) as an alkylating chemotherapeutic agent with broad-spectrum efficacy in cancer treatment. Despite its wide spectrum of clinical usage, off-target multiple organ toxicity such as sperm and testicular injury is one of its toxic side effects. Since the Nasturtium officinale L. hydroalcoholic extract (NOE) contains a wide range of phytochemicals with various biological functions, the current study was designed to explore the protective potential of NOE on testicular toxicity caused by Cy in rats.Materials and Methods: Forty-eight adult male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into eight groups (n=6): control, Cy [received a single dose of 75 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p)], NOE+Cy (Prevention): received NOE 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day, orally for 21 consecutive days and on the last day received Cy, Cy+NOE (Treatment): received NOE 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day, orally for 7 days after Cy administration for 21 consecutive days, and NOE (500 and 1000 mg/kg/day). After experiments, the testicular weight and volume, testosterone level, and sperm parameters as well as histologic and histomorphometric changes of testis were examined.Results: Base on the results, Cy caused significant decreases in testicular weight and volume, decreased testosterone level and reduced sperm count, and motility whereas increased sperm abnormality (p<0.05). Cy significantly reduced seminiferous tubules diameter, and height of the seminiferous epithelium (p<0.05). Furthermore, disorganization of seminiferous tubules diameter was increased in Cy group (p<0.05). Interestingly, pre and post-treatment with NOE could effectively improve testicular weight and volume, and testosterone level as well as sperm parameters. Furthermore, NOE administration ameliorated seminiferous tubules diameter diameter, seminiferous epithelium height (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that NOE may provide a potential protective effect for Cy-induced testicular damage. |
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| ISSN: | 2228-7930 2228-7949 |