Preventing bifenthrin-induced testicular toxicity in rats with Citrus sinensis (‘Maltese Half-blood’) essential oil: a multidisciplinary approach

Abstract

The widespread use of pesticides, particularly bifenthrin, has raised concerns about their impact on the environment and human health. Bifenthrin has been shown to have adverse effects on male reproductive health, making it a pressing issue to address. In this study, we investigated the potential of Citrus sinensis ‘Maltese Half-Blood’ essential oil (CsEO) to mitigate bifenthrin-induced testicular toxicity. Our approach combined molecular docking, network pharmacology, histopathology, along with in vitro and in vivo assays. to evaluate the antioxidant properties of CsEO and its ability to counteract bifenthrin’s harmful effects. Our results showed that CsEO possesses robust antioxidant attributes, primarily due to its rich phytochemical composition. Limonene, α-pinene, and γ-terpinene were identified as the most contributive compounds. In rat models, CsEO treatment significantly alleviated oxidative stress markers induced by bifenthrin. Network pharmacology analyses revealed the intricate interactions between CsEO’s molecular constituents and their biological targets, with compounds like cedrene and geraniol playing key roles. Molecular docking data demonstrated that certain essential oil components have binding affinities to protein targets that rival or even exceed those of bifenthrin. CsEO effectively counteracted bifenthrin-induced testicular oxidative stress, highlighting its therapeutic potential. Our findings provide compelling evidence that CsEO can effectively counteract the harmful effects of bifenthrin on testicular health.