Nasturtium Officinale L. hydroalcoholic extract improved oxymetholone-induced oxidative injury in mouse testis and sperm parameters.

Abstract

Testicular tissue and sex hormones are sensitive to the anabolic steroids (oxymetholone/OM) due to increased free radical damage and hormonal changes. The Nasturtium officinale L. have various antioxidant compounds. The aim of the present study was to investigate N.officinale effect on OM-induced oxidative injury in mouse testis and sperm parameters. Thirty BALB/c mice were divided into five groups, including control, OM (5ml/kg) and three N.officinale doses (25, 50 and 100mg/kg)+OM. At the end of the study (40days), serum luteinising hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, nitric oxide (NO) levels, ferric reducing ability of power (FRAP) and testis stereological factors were measured. The sperm parameters were evaluated. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS) analysis was yielded a fingerprint of N.officinale phenolic constituents. 100mg/kg of N.officinale extract significantly reduced the serum level of testosterone and a significant increase in LH and FSH in comparison with the control group. This dose also significantly improved the stereological factors and sperm parameters. 50 and 100mg/kg of N.officinale extract significantly increased the testis tissue FRAP levels, and 100 doses reduced the serum levels of NO. Fourteen compounds and 34 peaks were identified in the extract with LC-ESI/MS. Nasturtium officinale extract has protective effects against testicular toxicity caused by OM.