title: Fenugreek seed powder mitigates cadmium-induced testicular damage and hepatotoxicity in male rats.
abstract: Cadmium is a potential environmental and industrial pollutant affecting human tissues and organs including liver and testes. The protective role of fenugreek seed powder (FSP) was investigated in male rats subjected to cadmium-induced testicular injury and hepatic dysfunction. Testicular damage and hepatotoxicity were induced by oral administration of cadmium chloride (5 mg/kg body weight, once a day) for 7 weeks. FSP was given at 5% w/w in chow diet for 8 weeks, starting 1 week before cadmium administration. FSP intake significantly increased serum testosterone level and testis weight that were reduced by cadmium. FSP also compensated deficits in hepatic and testicular antioxidant defense system, interleukin-4 and nitric oxide levels, reduced serum liver function enzyme activities and suppressed lipid peroxidation in hepatic and testicular tissues resulted from cadmium administration. Additionally, FSP attenuated the cadmium-induced elevations in hepatic and testicular tumor necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-beta1 levels as well as cadmium deposition and hydroxyproline content. The protective effect afforded by FSP was mainly due its antioxidant, antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. In conclusion, the results of the present work indicated that FSP may represent a promising medicinal herb to protect hepatic and testicular tissues from the detrimental effects of cadmium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagazig, Zagazig, Sharkia Gov., Egypt. Electronic address: manar_arafa@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Manar Hamed
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Arafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagazig, Zagazig, Sharkia Gov., Egypt.
authors.forename: Nanies Sameeh
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Zagazig, Zagazig, Sharkia Gov., Egypt. Electronic address: hebahosany@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hebatallah Husseini
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Atteia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D016877:Oxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D029910:Trigonella
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016877:Oxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002104:Cadmium; D013739:Testosterone; C056164:fenugreek seed meal
keywords: Cadmium; Fenugreek; Fibrosis; Inflammation; Oxidative stress