title: Extract of Xylopia aethiopica (Annonaceae) protects against gamma-radiation induced testicular damage in Wistar rats.
abstract: Ionizing radiation is an important environmental risk factor and, a major therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of extract of Xylopia aethiopica (XA) on gamma-radiation-induced testicular damage in rats. Vitamin C (VC) served as the reference antioxidant during the study. The study consists of 4 groups of 11 rats each. Group I received corn oil (vehicle), groups II and IV were pretreated with XA (250 mg/kg) and VC (250mg/kg) for 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after exposure to gamma-radiation; group III was exposed to a single dose of gamma-radiation (5 Gy). Biochemical analysis revealed that gamma-irradiation caused a significant increase (p < .05) in serum and testicular lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels by 217% and 221%, respectively. Irradiated rats had markedly decreased testicular catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Irradiation resulted in 59% and 40% decreases in spermatozoa motility and live/dead sperm count, respectively, and a 161% increase in total sperm abnormalities. Histologically, testes of the irradiated rats showed extensive degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules and defoliation of spermatocytes. Supplementation of XA and VC reversed the adverse effects of gamma-radiation on biochemical and histological indices of the rats. These findings demonstrated that Xylopia aethiopica has a protective effect by inhibiting oxidative damage in testes of irradiated rats.
authors.affiliation: Drug Metabolism Research Laboratory, College of Medicine, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. aoadaramoye@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Oluwatosin Adekunle
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Adaramoye
authors.forename: Isaac Adegboyega
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Adedara
authors.forename: Bosede
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Popoola
authors.forename: Ebenezer Olatunde
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Farombi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D054336:Xylopia / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione