title: Potential role of punicalagin against oxidative stress induced testicular damage.
abstract: Punicalagin is isolated from pomegranate and widely used for the treatment of different diseases in Chinese traditional medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Punicalagin (purity ≥98%) on oxidative stress induced testicular damage and its effect on fertility. We detected the antioxidant potential of punicalagin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced oxidative stress damage in testes, also tried to uncover the boosting fertility effect of Punicalagin (PU) against oxidative stress-induced infertility. Results demonstrated that 9 mg kg-1 for 7 days treatment significantly decreases LPS induced oxidative damage in testes and nitric oxide production. The administration of oxidative stress resulted in a significant reduction in testes antioxidants GSH, T-SOD, and CAT raised LPO, but treatment with punicalagin for 7 days increased antioxidant defense GSH, T-SOD, and CAT by the end of the experiment and reduced LPO level as well. PU also significantly activates Nrf2, which is involved in regulation of antioxidant defense systems. Hence, the present research categorically elucidates the protective effect of punicalagin against LPS induced oxidative stress induced perturbation in the process of spermatogenesis and significantly increased sperm health and number. Moreover, fertility success significantly decreased in LPS-injected mice compared to controls. Mice injected with LPS had fertility indices of 12.5%, while others treated with a combination of PU + LPS exhibited 75% indices. By promoting fertility and eliminating oxidative stress and inflammation, PU may be a useful nutrient for the treatment of infertility.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027; Department of Life Science, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, 230027, China.
authors.forename: Faiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027; Department of Life Science, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, 230027, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027; Department of Life Science, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, 230027, China.
authors.forename: Wenqing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027; Department of Life Science, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, 230027, China.
authors.forename: Helong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, Innovation Center for Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027; Department of Life Science, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, 230027, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins; D020011:Protective Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C115642:punicalagin; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase