RESUMO
Background: Cadmium (Cd) is a widely spread environmental pollutant, listed among the unsafe metals due to known toxic effects on multiple organs, including the testes. In this study, we aim to evaluate the potential protectivity of garlic and ginger extracts on Cd-induced damage of the testis in rats. Materials and Methods: Fifty-six adult male albino rats were alienated into seven groups; control group, garlic-treated group, and ginger-treated group were given garlic and ginger extracts at doses of 250 mg and 120 mg/kg b.wt/day, Cd-treated group received 8.8 mg/Kg b.wt/day of Cd chloride, and the protected groups were given Cd and co-treated with garlic, ginger, or both extracts. The testes were subjected to different procedures to assess the oxidative status and histopathological changes. Results: Cd-treated rats showed a significant reduction in the testis weight and morphometric measurements of the seminiferous tubules compared to the control group. Cd administration resulted in a marked drop in the testosterone level and activities of antioxidative enzymes. Moreover, Cd induced histopathological changes in the seminiferous tubules. Co-administration of garlic and ginger extracts with the Cd showed partial improvement in the investigated parameters toward the control figures and improvement in the morphological changes. Co-treating both extracts together and the Cd resulted in complete normalization of these adverse effects of Cd. Conclusion: These findings indicated that garlic and ginger extracts could ameliorate the harmful effects of Cd on the testis. This effect was more prominent when garlic and ginger extracts were co-administered together with Cd.
RESUMO
Methotrexate (MTX) is an antimetabolite used to treat inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders and some malignancies. However, it has some life-threatening side effects such as nephrotoxicity which limit its clinical applications. That motivated the attention to seek for a defensive material to improve the outcomes of methotrexate while minimizing both renal and non-renal toxicity. Both honey (H) and olive oil (OO) are bioactive substances widely used as nutraceuticals that exhibited a potent therapeutic and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to assess the possible protective effect of H and OO intake either singly or together against the biochemical and structural Methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The study was conducted on 56 adult albino rats, they were divided into seven groups (n = 8): group 1 received only distelled water (negative control), group 2 received H (1.2 g/kg/day), group 3 received OO (1.25 ml/kg/day), group 4 received a single intraperitoneal injection of MTX (20 mg/kg), group 5 received MTX and H, group 6 received MTX and OO, group 7 received MTX, H and OO together. At the end of the experiment (2 weeks), all rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were assessed for kidney function tests. Kidney tissues were evaluated for several antioxidant parameters including Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Tissues were also processed for histological and immunohistochemical assessments. Results revealed that both H and OO improved the kidney function markers, histopathological and immunohistological changes due to Methotrexate-induced renal damage. Additionally, both substances also redeemed the oxidative damage of the kidney by decreasing MDA and increasing anti-oxidant enzymatic activities. Such effects were more apparent when the two substances were given together. Ultimately, our results proof that H and OO amiolerate the Methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity in rats, thus they can be used as an adjuvant supplements for patients requiring methotrexate therapy.
