title: Cardiac and testicular toxicity effects of the latex and ethanolic leaf extract ofCalotropis proceraon male albino rats in comparison to abamectin.
abstract: The present study aims to assess the toxic effect of latex and ethanolic leaf extract ofCalotropis procera(C. procera), in comparison to abamectin, on serum biomarkers of function and histological integrity of heart and testis in male albino rats. To achieve this aim, the albino rats were separately administered 1/20 and 1/10 of LD50ofC. proceralatex, ethanolicC. proceraleaf extract and abamectin respectively by oral gavage for 4 and 8 weeks.C. proceralatex and leaf extract as well as abamectin markedly elevated the activities of serum CK-MB, AST and LDH at the two tested periods in a dose dependent manner. Lipid peroxidation was significantly increased while GSH level and GPx, GST and SOD activities were significantly depleted in heart and testis of all treated rats. All treatments also induced a marked increase in serum TNF-α and decrease in serum IL-4, testosterone, FSH and LH levels in a dose dependent manner. The latex seemed to be more effective in deteriorating the testicular function and sex hormones' levels while the ethanolic leaf extract produced more deleterious effects on oxidative stress and antioxidant defense system in both heart and testis. The normal histological architecture and integrity of the heart and testis were perturbed after treatments and the severity of lesions, which include odema, inflammatory cell infiltration, necrosis and degeneration, is dose and time dependent. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicated thatC. proceralatex and ethanolic extract of leaves could induce marked toxicity in heart and testis and these toxic effects may be more or less similar to those of abamectin. The cardiotoxicity and testicular toxicity may be mediated via stimulation of inflammation, increased oxidative stress and suppression of antioxidant defense system.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: Osama M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Physiology Division, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hanaa I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Fahim
authors.affiliation: Rodents Division, Harmful Animals Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Magdy W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Boules
authors.affiliation: Rodents Division, Harmful Animals Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Heba Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ahmed
keywords: Abamectin; Calotropis procera; Heart; Testis; Toxicity