prophylactic role of some edible wild plants against nitrosamine precursors experimentally-induced testicular toxicity in male albino rats

ABSTRACT

For a long time, nitrosamine compounds have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several clinical disorders, however, recent advances in biosciences support the hypothesis that diet improves various body functions and reduces the risk of some diseases. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the ameliorative effect of two edible wild plants including purslane and chicory against the adverse biochemical action and testis injury induced by nitrosamine compounds resulting from the co-administration of sodium nitrite and chlorpromazine [CP] precursor in male rats. The results of the present study revealed that the concurrent administration of both sodium nitrite [0.05%] and chlorpromazine [1.7mg/Kg/day] for eight weeks caused a marked toxic effects on the testicular functions as indicated by the inhibition of serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone [LH] levels with concomitant increase in the activity of alkaline and acid phosphatase [ALP and ACP]. In addition, total protein content was decreased. Moreover, the testicular oxidative stress markers; lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl group were significantly increased, while a marked decrease in the content of testis glutathione [GSH] as well as the activity of glutathione-S-transferase [GSH-S-T] and catalase was demonstrated. However, the occurred disturbances in the testicular functions and the above mentioned parameters were significantly improved as a consequence of feeding the sodium nitrite plus chlorpromazine treated rats on purslane [5% w/w] or chicory [10% w/w] for eight weeks indicating a protective role of purslane and chicory plants against the toxic effects of nitrosamine carcinogenic compounds resulting from interaction between sodium nitrite and chlorpromazine