Anatomical Science International

, Volume 91, Issue 4, pp 382–390 | Cite as

Protective effect of combined pumpkin seed and ginger extracts on sperm characteristics, biochemical parameters and epididymal histology in adult male rats treated with cyclophosphamide

  • Somaieh Aghaie
  • Hossein Nikzad
  • Javad Amini Mahabadi
  • Mohsen Taghizadeh
  • Abolfazl Azami-Tameh
  • Aliakbar Taherian
  • Seyyed Mohammad Sajjad Sajjadian
  • Mehran Kamani
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Reproductive toxicity is one of the side effects of cyclophosphamide (CP) in cancer treatment. Pumpkin seeds and Zingiber officinale are natural sources of antioxidants. We investigated the possible protective effect of combined pumpkin seed and Zingiber officinale extracts on sperm characteristics, epididymal histology and biochemical parameters of CP-treated rats. Male adult Wistar rats were divided randomly into six groups. Group 1, as a control, received an isotonic saline solution injection intraperitoneally (IP). Group 2 were injected IP with a single dose of CP (100 mg/kg) once. Groups 3 and 4 received CP plus 300 and 600 mg/kg combined pumpkin seed and Zingiber officinale extract (50:50). Groups 5 and 6 received only 300 and 600 mg/kg combined pumpkin seed and Zingiber officinale extract. Six weeks after treatment, sperm characteristics, histopathological changes and biochemical parameters were assessed. In CP-treated rats, motile spermatozoa were decreased, and abnormal or dead spermatozoa increased significantly (P < 0.001) but administration of the mixed extract improved sperm parameters. Epididymal epithelium and fibromascular thickness were also improved in extract-treated rats compared to control or CP groups. Biochemical analysis showed that the administration of combined extracts could increase the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level significantly in groups 3, 4, 5 and 6. Interestingly, the mixed extract could decrease most of the side effects of CP such as vacuolization and separation of epididymal tissue. Our findings indicated that the combined extracts might be used as a protective agent against CP-induced reproductive toxicity.

Keywords

Cyclophosphamide Pumpkin seed and Zingiber officinale extract Rat’s epididymis Sperm parameters Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This study was supported financially by the deputy of research in Kashan University of Medical Sciences and Kashan Anatomical Sciences Research Center (Grant No 9110). The authors gratefully acknowledge the kind cooperation of all staff in the Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Science.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Copyright information

© Japanese Association of Anatomists 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Somaieh Aghaie
    • 1
  • Hossein Nikzad
    • 2
  • Javad Amini Mahabadi
    • 2
  • Mohsen Taghizadeh
    • 3
  • Abolfazl Azami-Tameh
    • 1
  • Aliakbar Taherian
    • 1
  • Seyyed Mohammad Sajjad Sajjadian
    • 4
  • Mehran Kamani
    • 1
  1. 1.Anatomical Sciences Research CenterKashan University of Medical ScienceKashanIran
  2. 2.Gametogenesis Research CenterKashan University of Medical SciencesKashanIran
  3. 3.Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic DisordersKashan University of Medical ScienceKashanIran
  4. 4.Student Research CommitteeKashan University of Medical ScienceKashanIran

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