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. 2025 Jul;11(4):e70322.
doi: 10.1002/vms3.70322.

Therapeutic Effects of Naringin on Bisphenol A-Induced Oxidative Stress Damage in Nervous and Reproductive Systems of Cockerel Chickens

Leah Oluwaseyanu Esuola  1 , Oluwaseun Olarenwaju Esan  2 , Adamu Shafiu Maikifi  1 , Temitayo Olabisi Ajibade  3 , Moses Olusola Adetona  4 , Oluwasanmi Olayinka Aina  5 , Ademola Adetokunbo Oyagabemi  3 , Temidayo Olutayo Omobowale  2 , Omolade Abodunrin Oladele  2 , Evaristus Nwulia  6 , Momoh Audu Yakubu  7 , Oluwafemi Omoniyi Oguntibeju  8
Affiliations

Therapeutic Effects of Naringin on Bisphenol A-Induced Oxidative Stress Damage in Nervous and Reproductive Systems of Cockerel Chickens

Leah Oluwaseyanu Esuola et al. Vet Med Sci. 2025 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical, and it is mostly used in plastic industries. Naringin is a potent flavonoid that has been reported to possess several beneficial pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of naringin against the damage induced by BPA in the brain and testes of commercial chicken.

Methods: Thirty-day-old cockerel chickens were purchased and reared for 6 weeks and subsequently divided into six groups: group A (control), group B (100 ppm BPA-treated), group C (BPA and 100 mg/kg naringin-treated), Group D (BPA and 200 mg/kg naringin-treated), group E (100 mg/kg naringin-treated), and group F (200 mg/kg naringin-treated). BPA was administered via drinking water, while naringin was administered via oral gavage. Analyses such as biochemical assays, hormonal assays, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry were done.

Results: The results showed a decrease in the level of LH, FSH, and testosterone, an increase in the level of oxidative stress markers (MDA and H2O2), and alteration in the levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (GSH, GST, SOD, GPx) in the brain and testes of the BPA-intoxicated group. Histologically, neuronal necrosis and degeneration were observed in the brain, and degeneration of testicular cells was seen in the testes of BPA-intoxicated chickens. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed low expression of myelin basic protein in the brain and increased expression of caspase 3 in the testes of the BPA-intoxicated group.

Conclusions: Naringin reversed the neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity of BPA by normalizing the values of the altered parameters. Hence, naringin ameliorated the deleterious effects caused by BPA in both the brain and testes by enhancing the antioxidant defence mechanism.

Keywords: antioxidant; bisphenol A; chickens; naringin; nervous system; reproductive system.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Hormonal assay (a) luteinizing hormone (LH), (b) follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), and (c) testosterone. Superscript (a) indicates a significant difference at p < 0.05 when compared with the control group (group A). Superscript (b) indicates a significant difference when compared with the bisphenol A group only (group B). The results are shown in mean ± SD (n = 6). Group A: control; group B: BPA (100 mg/kg); group C: BPA and naringin (100 mg/kg); group D: BPA and naringin (200 mg/kg); group E: naringin (100 mg/kg); and group F: naringin (200 mg/kg).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation in (a) brain and (b) testis. Superscript (a) indicates a significant difference at p < 0.05 when compared with the control group (group A). Superscript (b) indicates a significant difference when compared with the bisphenol A group only (group B). The results are shown in mean ± SD (n = 6). Group A: control; group B: BPA (100 mg/kg); group C: BPA and naringin (100 mg/kg); group D: BPA and naringin (200 mg/kg); group E: naringin (100 mg/kg); and group F: naringin (200 mg/kg).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Malondialdehyde (MDA) generation in (a) brain and (b) testis. Superscript (a) indicates a significant difference at p < 0.05 when compared with the control group (group A). Superscript (b) indicates a significant difference when compared with the bisphenol A group only (group B). The results are shown in mean ± SD (n = 6). Group A: control; group B: BPA (100 mg/kg); group C: BPA and naringin (100 mg/kg); group D: BPA and naringin (200 mg/kg); group E: naringin (100 mg/kg); and group F: naringin (200 mg/kg).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Reduced glutathione (GSH) content in (a) brain and (b) testis. Superscript (a) indicates a significant difference at p < 0.05 when compared with the control group (group A). Superscript (b) indicates a significant difference when compared with the bisphenol A group only (group B). The results are shown in mean ± SD (n = 6). Group A: control; group B: BPA (100 mg/kg); group C: BPA and naringin (100 mg/kg); group D: BPA and naringin (200 mg/kg); group E: naringin (100 mg/kg); and group F: naringin (200 mg/kg).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) content in (a) brain and (b) testis. Superscript (a) indicates a significant difference at p < 0.05 when compared with the control group (group A). Superscript (b) indicates a significant difference when compared with the bisphenol A group only (group B). The results are shown in mean ± SD (n = 6). Group A: control, group B: BPA (100 mg/kg), group C: BPA and naringin (100 mg/kg), group D: BPA and naringin (200 mg/kg), group E: naringin (100 mg/kg), and group F: naringin (200 mg/kg).
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Glutathione transferase (GST) content in (a) brain and (b) testis. Superscript (a) indicates a significant difference at p < 0.05 when compared with the control group (group A). Superscript (b) indicates a significant difference when compared with the bisphenol A group only (group B). The results are shown in mean ± SD (n = 6). Group A: control; group B: BPA (100 mg/kg); group C: BPA and naringin (100 mg/kg); group D: BPA and naringin (200 mg/kg); group E: naringin (100 mg/kg); and group F: naringin (200 mg/kg).
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) production in (a) brain and (b) testis. Superscript (a) indicates a significant difference at p < 0.05 when compared with the control group (group A). Superscript (b) indicates a significant difference when compared with the bisphenol A group only (group B). The results are shown in mean ± SD (n = 6). Group A: control; group B: BPA (100 mg/kg); group C: BPA and naringin (100 mg/kg); group D: BPA and naringin (200 mg/kg); group E: naringin (100 mg/kg); and group F: naringin (200 mg/kg).
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) generation in the brain tissue. Superscript (a) indicates a significant difference at p < 0.05 when compared with the control group (group A). Superscript (b) indicates a significant difference when compared with the bisphenol A group only (group B). The results are shown in mean ± SD (n = 6). Group A: control; group B: BPA (100 mg/kg); group C: BPA and naringin (100 mg/kg); group D: BPA and naringin (200 mg/kg); group E: naringin (100 mg/kg); and group F: naringin (200 mg/kg).
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9
The histology of the brain. Group A (control) shows no visible lesions, group B (bisphenol A; 100 mg/kg) shows a mild‐to‐moderate diffuse neuronal degeneration and necrosis (arrows), group C (bisphenol A + naringin 100 mg/kg) shows mild diffuse spongiosis with mild neuronal degeneration (arrows), group D (bisphenol A + naringin 200 mg/kg) shows mild diffuse spongiosis with mild neuronal degeneration (arrows), group E (naringin 100 mg/kg) shows no visible lesions, and group F (naringin 2000 mg/kg) shows no visible lesions. Slides were stained with high definition haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) at 100× magnification.
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10
The histology of the testes. Group A (control) shows no visible lesions, group B (bisphenol A; 100 mg/kg) shows disruption of the testicular architecture, group C (bisphenol A + naringin 100 mg/kg) shows no visible lesions, group D (bisphenol A + naringin 200 mg/kg) shows no visible lesions, group E (naringin 100 mg/kg) shows no visible lesions, and group F (naringin 2000 mg/kg) shows no visible lesions. Slides were stained with high definition haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) at 100× magnification.
FIGURE 11
FIGURE 11
The immunohistochemistry of neuronal myelin basic protein (MBP). A (control), B (bisphenol A; 100 mg/kg), C (bisphenol A + naringin 100 mg/kg), D (bisphenol A + naringin 200 mg/kg), E (naringin 100 mg/kg), F (naringin 200 mg/kg). Slides were stained with high definition haematoxylin (magnification 100×).
FIGURE 12
FIGURE 12
The immunohistochemistry of testicular caspase 3. A (control), B (bisphenol A; 100 mg/kg), C (bisphenol A + naringin 100 mg/kg), D (bisphenol A + naringin 200 mg/kg), E (naringin 100 mg/kg), F (naringin 2000 mg/kg). Slides were stained with high‐definition haematoxylin (magnification 100×).
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