title: Effect of Carissa opaca leaves extract on lipid peroxidation, antioxidant activity and reproductive hormones in male rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carissa opaca leaves are traditionally used in the treatment of male dysfunction and hormonal disorder as well as in oxidative stress in Pakistan and Asia. The present study was designed to assess the protective effects of methanolic extract of Carissa opaca leaves (MLC) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced reproductive stress in male rats and bioactive constituents responsible for the activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  CCl4 was induced in 42 male rats for eight weeks and checked the protective efficacy of methanolic extract of Carissa opaca leaves at various hormonal imbalances, alteration of antioxidant enzymes, DNA fragmentation levels and lipid peroxidation caused testicular fibrosis in testis while High performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used for detection of bioactive components.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HPLC characterization revealed the presence of isoquercitin, hyperoside, vitexin, myricetin and kaempherol. CCl4 caused significant alteration in the secretion of reproductive hormones. Activity of antioxidant enzymes viz; catalase, superoxide dimutase and phase II metabolizing enzymes including glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and reduced glutathione was decreased while DNA fragmentation, hydrogen per oxide contents and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were increased with CCl4 treatment. Co-administration of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg b.w. MLC effectively ameliorated the alterations in the biochemical markers; hormonal and molecular levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Protective effects of methanolic extract of Carissa opaca against CCl4-induced antioxidant and hormonal dysfunction which might be due to bioactive compound present in extract.
authors.affiliation: Botanical Sciences Division, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Shakarparian, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sumaira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahreen
authors.forename: Muhammad Rashid
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Rahmat Ali
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Naseer Ali
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010154:Pakistan; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride