Testicular oxidative stress in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with bitter melon (Momordica charantia): the effect of antioxidant supplementation.
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Date
2011
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Abstract
Objective: An important mediator of testicular injury is oxidative stress; the implicating pathway
has been pointed at a free radical mechanism by researchers. This article, investigates the effect of
bitter melon (Momordica charantia) (MC) seed extract and antioxidant supplementation in the
testes of Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rat. Methodology: Ninety male S-D rats, weighing between 110-
214 g, were assigned randomly into six main Groups A to F. Group A was administered 50 mg/100
g of MC extract orally, between 6 to 16 weeks. Group B were pre-treated with ascorbic acid (AA)
0.01mg/kg, three days/week, α-tocopherol (AT) 20 mg/kg, five days/week and both test solutions
(TS) i.e. AA and AT; 0.01 and 20 mg/kg, three and five days/week for 8 weeks. This was followed
by administration of the extract at dose and duration as in A. Group C received the extract for 8
weeks and afterwards post-treated for another 8 weeks with AA, AT and both TS (as above).
Group D in addition to the extract administration were treated with AA, AT and both TS in dose
and duration similar to B above. Group E had AA, AT and both TS alone for 8 weeks. Group F
served as the control subjects. The animals testicular tissues were processed for malondialdehyde
(MDA) and AA concentrations. Serum testosterone (TT) assay was done from left ventricular
blood. Results: The extract administered for 6, 8 and 16 weeks produced significantly (p < 0.05)
increased testicular MDA (1.74 ± 1.15, 1.84 ± 0.38 and 2.38 ± 0.40) compared to control (0.38 ±
0.02, 0.38 ± 0.03 and 0.35 ± 0.02) and decreased AA (0.01± 0.02, 0.01± 0.01 and 0.00± 0.01)
compared to control (0.15 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.02 and 0.13 ± 0.02). There was also an associated
significant decrease (p < 0.05) in peripheral TT levels compared to control. The extract produced
responses that showed no prophylactic rather modulatory effect with TS. Conclusion: These
findings suggest that the extract resulted in changes in the testicular oxidative status. This may
play a role in testicular dysfunction that may compromise fertility.
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Keywords
Momordica charantia, malondialdehyde, ascorbic acid, testosterone
Citation
Yama O E, Duru F I O, Oremosu A A, Noronha C C. Testicular oxidative stress in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with bitter melon (Momordica charantia): the effect of antioxidant supplementation. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. 2011; 10(2): 104-111.