An Innovative Use of Propolis in the Production of Dipping Sauce Powder as a Functional Food to Mitigate Testicular Toxicity Induced by Cadmium Chloride: Technological and Biological Evidence

Abstract

Propolis is a common natural ingredient used in food production, food packaging, and pharmaceutical products. Therefore, the aim of our study was to prepare dipping sauce powders as an innovative functional product with a regular and spicy taste from economical raw materials with high nutritional value. The developed products were fortified with propolis powder at 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg. All studied dipping sauces were subjected to a palatability test, a nutritional evaluation, and a microbiological assay performed during 6 months of storage. In addition, an in vivo study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of these products in preventing the testicular toxicity disorders induced by cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) in albino rats. Based on the palatability test, the dipping sauces supplemented with propolis at 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg were preferred. Moreover, all samples were safe to consume within 6 months. Biological results showed that all investigated propolis-enriched dipping sauce samples caused an improvement in all CdCl₂-induced testicular histopathological and biochemical changes, especially the spicy dipping sauce powder fortified with 500 mg/kg of propolis.

Keywords: cadmium chloride toxicity mitigation; dipping sauce fortification; fertility hormones; histology; propolis; rat model.

Figure 1

Acceptability scores of dipping sauce formulations.

Figure 2

Acceptable dipping sauce formulations (regular samples (C–C2) and spicy samples (Cs–Cs2)).

Figure 3

Total bacterial count at 25 ± 5 °C expressed as log (CFU/mL) for up to 6 months of storage.

Figure 4

(a) Section of testis of a control rat showing normal seminiferous tubules (arrow), spermatogonia (Sg), spermatocytes (Sc), and spermatozoa (Sz). (b) Section in testis of a rat treated with CdCl2 showing an atrophoid seminiferous tubule with marked degeneration and necrosis of spermatogonial cells and vacuolation (v) and thickened tubular wall (arrow). (c) Section in testis of a rat from group III, showing mild restoration of spermatogonial cells (arrow), spermatids (St). (d) Section in testis of a rat from group IV, showing marked improvement of testicular tissue with dome degeneration (star). (e) Section in testis of a rat from group V, showing marked improvement of testicular tissue. (f) Section in testis of a rat from group VI, showing moderate improvement of testicular tissue with normal spermatogonia (arrow), with absence of spermatozoa (star). (g) Section in testis of a rat from group VII, showing marked improvement of testicular tissue. (h) Section in testis of a rat from group VIII, showing normal testicular tissue with complete spermatogenesis. (H&E stain; ×400).

Figure 4

(a) Section of testis of a control rat showing normal seminiferous tubules (arrow), spermatogonia (Sg), spermatocytes (Sc), and spermatozoa (Sz). (b) Section in testis of a rat treated with CdCl2 showing an atrophoid seminiferous tubule with marked degeneration and necrosis of spermatogonial cells and vacuolation (v) and thickened tubular wall (arrow). (c) Section in testis of a rat from group III, showing mild restoration of spermatogonial cells (arrow), spermatids (St). (d) Section in testis of a rat from group IV, showing marked improvement of testicular tissue with dome degeneration (star). (e) Section in testis of a rat from group V, showing marked improvement of testicular tissue. (f) Section in testis of a rat from group VI, showing moderate improvement of testicular tissue with normal spermatogonia (arrow), with absence of spermatozoa (star). (g) Section in testis of a rat from group VII, showing marked improvement of testicular tissue. (h) Section in testis of a rat from group VIII, showing normal testicular tissue with complete spermatogenesis. (H&E stain; ×400).