title: Protection of testis through antioxidant action of Mallotus roxburghianus in alloxan-induced diabetic rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mallotus roxburghianus is used for its antihyperglycaemic properties in Southeast Asia especially in Northeast India (Mizoram) and is also recognized in traditional medicine. About 90% of diabetic patients have been associated with reproductive impairments. The primary aim of this investigation is to examine the effects of diabetes on oxidative stress, steroidogenesis, histopathology, proliferation of germ cells with proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and antioxidant status, and alleviative effect of M. roxburghianus on the testis dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methanolic leaf extract of M. roxburghianus was given to male albino Wistar rats by oral gavage to study the acute toxicity. Phyto-chemical composition of the methanol extract of M. roxburghianus was analyzed by GC-MS. Male Wistar rats were divided into six groups with seven animals in each group: untreated control; M. roxburghianus methanolic extract control (MRME, 400mg/kg); Alloxan diabetic control group (150 mg/kg); diabetic with 100mg/kg MRME treatment; diabetic with 400mg/kg MRME treatment; and diabetic with glibenclamide (0.1mg/kg) treatment. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg alloxan and was confirmed by testing fasting plasma blood glucose levels 5 days after injection. MRME was administered orally for 28 days. Body and testis weights, serum testosterone, testis malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), glutathione S transferase (GST) and protein levels were measured, and testis tissue was examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically (PCNA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No sign of mortality and organ toxicity was observed up to 3000 mg/kg in acute toxicity assay of MRME and inferred to be non-toxic and safe. Bergenin and betulinic acid are the major components of MRME with many biological activities. MRME treatment rendered significant increases in body weight, testis weight, testes-body weight ratio, down regulated the MDA levels, reduced the degeneration and disruption of seminiferous tubule structure, restored the antioxidant enzymes and serum testosterone levels, increased the PCNA activities and attenuated the testes injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRME treatment to diabetic rats improves diabetes induced oxidative damage in testis as well as provides protection to testis. Phenols (Bergenin) and terpenes (Betulinic acid) were the main compounds of MRME that show antioxidant and antidiabetic activities and indeed validated its traditional use in the management of diabetes related testicular impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Mizoram Central University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India. Electronic address: vikas4araria@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vikas Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Mizoram Central University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India.
authors.forename: Lalramdinthara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chenkual
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Mizoram Central University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India. Electronic address: gurus64@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Guruswami
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gurusubramanian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D036461:Mallotus Plant; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D013739:Testosterone; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Acute toxicity; Antioxidant defense; GC–MS; Mallotus roxburghianus; Oxidative stress; PCNA expression; Testicular histopathology