Emblica officinalis Garten fruits extract ameliorates reproductive injury and oxidative testicular toxicity induced by chlorpyrifos in male rats

Abstract

Organophosphate pesticides have destroying properties on male reproduction and chlorpyrifos adversely affects the male reproductive system. Emblica offcinalis Garten plays a vital role to challenge many diseases in human body. We investigated the induction of oxidative stress in the male reproductive system of adult rats (Wistar Strain) exposed to widely used organophosphate pesticide, Chlorpyrifos, and tried to establish the ameliorative properties of Emblica officinalis Garten with respect to reproductive reconstruction in them. Rats were divided into 2 groups, control group and experimental group, and the experimental group was divided into 3 groups (G1-G3). All the groups had 5 rats each. Control group received water, experimental group, G1, received 20 mg/kg bw/day Emblica officinalis Garten, G2 received 12 mg/kg bw/day chlorpyrifos and G3 received 12 mg chlorpyrifos with 20 mg Emblica officinalis Garten /kg bw/day. Treatment was done orally from 30 days. Thereafter body weight, male reproductive organs weight, sperm count, sperm morphology, ACP, ALP, total protein, uric acid and testis and serum testosterone level were determined using standard methods. The changes recorded are indicative of infertility in male rats because of chlorpyrifos exposure. When the subjects were treated with Emblica officinalis Garten in conjunction with chlorpyrifos, these parameters exhibited recovery and when treated with Emblica officinalis Garten alone, these parameters were more or less near to the control group. This highlights the debilitating effect of chlorpyrifos and scavenging property of Emblica officinalis Garten.

Keywords: Chlorpyrifos; Emblica officinalis; Natural medicine; Organophosphate pesticides; Oxidative stress; Reproductive injury; Testicular toxicity.

Figure 1

Bar and graphical representation of sperm count and sperm motility after 30 days exposure. ***P <0.001 for G2 and G3 than the control animals.

Figure 2

T.S. of epididymis in control rat (A) showing normal sperm density (+++) in epididymal lumen, in E . officinalis treated rat (B) showing normal sperm density (+++) in epididymal lumen, in chlorpyrifos treated rat (C) showing severely decreased (+) and in chlorpyrifos with E . officinalis treated rat (D) showing moderate decline(++) sperm density in epididymal lumen.

Figure 3

Bar diagram of uric acid level after 30 days exposure. ***P < 0.001 for G2 and G3 than the control animals.

Figure 4

Bar and graphical representation of testis and serum testosterone level after 30 days exposure. ***P < 0.001,*P < 0.05 for G1, G2 and G3 than the control animals.

Figure 5

Schematic diagram showing the effects of pesticides on testicular tissue and the probable pathways of damage.

Figure 6

Diagram showing the probable mechanism of remedial effects of Emblica officinalis against the pesticides treated tissue.