ISSN 2326-7275
International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ISSN: 2326-7275 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-012, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Evaluation of antioxidant and fertility effects of Digera muricata in male rats
Muhammad Rashid Khan*, Gul Nabi Khan and Dawood Ahmed
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan.
Accepted 18 October, 2018
Abstract
Treatment of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) 1 ml/kg b.w. (10% in olive oil) to Sprague-Dawley male rats once a week for 16 weeks caused a significant increase in serum level of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), direct bilirubin, total bilirubin, estradiol and prolactin; whereas suppressed level of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were restored with the administration of n-hexane extract of Digera muricata (DMH). In addition, hepatic activities of antioxidant enzymes; catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSR), quinone reductase (QR), gamma glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) suppressed with CCl4 were elevated with DMH gavages. Decrease in hepatic contents of glutathione (GSH) while increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitrite and H2O2 contents with CCl4 were returned towards the normal level with DMH. Treatment of DMH attenuates the toxicity of CCl4 and the decrease in weight of body, liver, testis, accessory organs reversed towards the normal level. Presence of bioactive constituents (rutin and hyperoside) in DMH suggested to have therapeutic effects against CCl4 induced oxidative stress and hypogonadism.
Key words: Digera muricata, antioxidant, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, liver cirrhosis, carbon tetrachloride, testosterone.