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. 2014 Jun;15(6):548-55.
doi: 10.1631/jzus.B1300299.

Antioxidant activity and protective effect of Clitoria ternatea flower extract on testicular damage induced by ketoconazole in rats

Sitthichai Iamsaard  1 , Jaturon Burawat, Pipatpong Kanla, Supatcharee Arun, Wannisa Sukhorum, Bungorn Sripanidkulchai, Nongnut Uabundit, Jintanaporn Wattathorn, Wiphawi Hipkaeo, Duriya Fongmoon, Hisatake Kondo
Affiliations

Antioxidant activity and protective effect of Clitoria ternatea flower extract on testicular damage induced by ketoconazole in rats

Sitthichai Iamsaard et al. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Ketoconazole (KET), an antifungal drug, has adverse effects on the male reproductive system. Pre-treatments with antioxidant plant against testicular damage induced by KET are required. The flowers of Clitoria ternatea (CT) are proven to have hepatoprotective potential. However, the protective effect on KET-induced testicular damage has not been reported.

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of CT flower extracts with antioxidant activity on male reproductive parameters including sperm concentration, serum testosterone level, histopathology of the testis, and testicular tyrosine phosphorylation levels in rats induced with KET.

Methods: The antioxidant activity of CT flower extracts was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Male rats were treated with CT flower extracts (10, 50, or 100 mg/kg BW) or distilled water via a gastric tube for 28 d (preventive period: Days 1-21) and induced by KET (100 mg/kg BW) via intraperitoneal injection for 7 d (induction period: Days 22-28). After the experiment, all animals were examined for the weights of the testis, epididymis plus vas deferens and seminal vesicle, serum testosterone levels, sperm concentration, histological structures and diameter of testis, and testicular tyrosine phosphorylation levels by immunoblotting.

Results: The CT flower extracts had capabilities for DPPH scavenging and high reducing power. At 100 mg/kg BW, the extract had no toxic effects on the male reproductive system. Significantly, in CT+KET groups, CT flower extracts (50 and 100 mg/kg BW) alleviated the reduction of reproductive organ weight parameters, testosterone levels, and sperm concentration. In addition, CT flower extracts gave protection from testicular damage in KET-induced rats. Moreover, in the CT100+KET group, CT flower extracts significantly enhanced the expression of a testicular 50-kDa tyrosine phosphorylated protein compared with that of other groups.

Conclusions: C. ternatea flower extracts possessing antioxidant activity are not harmful to the male reproductive system and can protect against testicular damage in KET-induced rats.

Keywords: Antioxidant activity; Clitoria ternatea (CT) flower extracts; Ketoconazole (KET); Testicular damage; Testicular tyrosine phosphorylation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with ethics guidelines: Sitthichai IAMSAARD, Jaturon BURAWAT, Pipatpong KANLA, Supatcharee ARUN, Wannisa SUKHORUM, Bungorn SRIPANIDKULCHAI, Nongnut UABUNDIT, Jintanaporn WATTATHORN, Wiphawi HIPKAEO, Duriya FONGMOON, and Hisatake KONDO declare that they have no conflict of interest.

All institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals were followed.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Photographs showing rat testicular histology (H&E) from a representative section (a) Control; (b) KET; (c) CT100; (d) CT10+KET; (e) CT50+KET; (f) CT100+KET
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Photographs showing histopathogy (H&E) of seminiferous tubules observed in KET-induced rats from representative sections (a) Sloughing of germ cells (arrows); (b) Early cell degeneration with giant cell (arrows); (c) Late cell degeneration
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Immuno-Western blot analysis for tyrosine protein phosphorylation levels in testicular lysates (a) and relative intensity of the phosphorylated 50-kDa protein of testicular lysate (b) In (a), 60 μg protein is for each lane of control, KET, and CT+KET groups. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor were used as negative and positive controls for phosphotyrosine antibody, respectively. In (b), data are expressed as mean±SD (n=3). * P<0.05 vs. control
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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