Ameliorative effects of milk thistle alcoholic extract on reproductive function and testicular oxidative damage in potassium dichromate treated male rats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31210/spi2026.29.01.16Keywords:
Milk thistle, rats, testicular oxidative damageAbstract
Milk thistle (silymarin), a well-known antioxidant and cytoprotective compound, possesses therapeutic and protective properties. Numerous scientific studies have documented the use of milk thistle-based preparations for therapeutic purposes (to treat various pathological processes in animals and humans) or for prophylaxis. Based on the above mentioned, this study aimed to investigate the corrective effect of milk thistle ethanol extract on reproductive function and oxidative testicular damage in rats poisoned with potassium dichromate. In the experiment, adult male albino rats (n=6) were used. Group 1 (Control group): The animals were given distilled water orally for 28 days. Accordingly, Group 2 was administered potassium dichromate intraperitoneally daily for two weeks. Animals in Group 3 were given an oral dose of milk thistle alcoholic extract. Animals in Group 4 were given an oral dose of milk thistle alcoholic extract (daily for 28 days) and potassium dichromate (daily for two weeks). The studies established the negative effect of potassium dichromate, which affected the changes in the level of testosterone, FSH, and LH in the blood serum of male rats (group 2); the mentioned indicators tended to significantly decrease (P≤0.05) compared to those in the control group. It was determined that the level of testosterone, FSH, and LH in the blood serum in the group of rats (group 3) that received milk thistle was similar to the analogous levels in rats (group 1) that did not receive potassium dichromate. At the same time, in this group the level of testosterone, FSH and LH tended to increase (P≤0.05) compared to the group that received potassium dichromate. The studies established the presence of a corrective effect in the group of animals that received potassium dichromate + milk thistle. In particular, serum testosterone, FSH, and LH levels were recorded to increase by 1.6, 1.5, and 1.3 times, respectively (P≤0.05), compared to the potassium dichromate-treated rats. It was also found that the administration of potassium dichromate to rats (Group 2) increased the level of nitric oxide (P≤0.05) and decreased the activity of SOD (P≤0.05) compared to the control animals. The administration of milk thistle to rats (Group 3) contributed to the increase in the activity of SOD (P≤0.05), even compared to the indicator in the control group of animals. In Group 4 of rats, the level of nitric oxide tended to decrease (P≤0.05), and the activity of SOD increased (P≤0.05) compared to the animals that received potassium dichromate. Thus, according to the study, milk thistle extract demonstrated a significant protective effect against potassium dichromate.
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