title: Lithium induced, oxidative stress and related damages in testes and heart in male rats: The protective effects of Malva sylvestris extract.
abstract: Malva sylvestris is widely used in Mediterranean and European traditional medicine and ethnoveterinary for the treatment of various diseases. This study, carried out on male Wistar rats, evaluates the beneficial effects of Malva sylvestris extract upon lithium carbonate-induced damages in testes and heart. For this purpose, Malva sylvestris extract at a dose of 0.2g/kg was orally administrated, followed by 25mg/kg lithium carbonate (intraperitoneal injection, twice daily). Lithium carbonate treatment significantly (p<0.01) decreased the weight of testes, accessory sex organ and heart, sperm count and motility, and serum testosterone level. In addition, exposure to lithium carbonate significantly (p<0.01) increased lipid peroxidation level (LPO) and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities in testes and heart. Treatment with M. sylvestris extract affords substantial protection in testes and heart by altering all the parameters to near normal levels that were further confirmed by histological examination. The beneficial effect of M. Sylvestris extract in several organs could be attributed to the interaction of antioxidant components, such as complex polysaccharides, as confirmed by phytochemical analysis.
authors.affiliation: Research of Macromolecular Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, 2112, University of Gafsa, Tunisie; Laboratory of Active Biomolecules Valorisation, Higher Institute of Applied Biology of Medenine, University of Gabes, 4119 Medenine, Tunisie. Electronic address: anouarsaad75@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anouar Ben
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.affiliation: Research of Macromolecular Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, 2112, University of Gafsa, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Ilhem
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rjeibi
authors.affiliation: Research of Macromolecular Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, 2112, University of Gafsa, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Hichem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alimi
authors.affiliation: Unit of Common Services, Faculty of Sciences Gafsa, 2112, University of Gafsa, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ncib
authors.affiliation: Research of Macromolecular Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, 2112, University of Gafsa, Tunisie; Laboratory of Active Biomolecules Valorisation, Higher Institute of Applied Biology of Medenine, University of Gabes, 4119 Medenine, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Amani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smida
authors.affiliation: Higher Institute of Applied Biology ISBAM Medenine, 4119, University of Gabes, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Nacim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zouari
authors.affiliation: Research of Macromolecular Biochemistry and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, 2112, University of Gafsa, Tunisie; Higher Institute of Applied Biology ISBAM Medenine, 4119, University of Gabes, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Lazhar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zourgui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D028501:Malva; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Antioxidant; Lithium toxicity; Malva sylvestris; Oxidative stress; Polysaccharide