Studies on fertility of diabetic male rats treated with olive leaves extract

Samir Zahkok1, Nehal Abo-Elnaga2, Amel F. M. Ismail3, Esraa Mousa2

Samir Zahkok1, Nehal Abo-Elnaga2, Amel F. M. Ismail3, Esraa Mousa2 1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University and director of Genetic Engineering Center, 2 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University (For Girls), 3Drug Radiation Research Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT).P.O. Box 29, Zip Code 11371 Atomic Energy Authority, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Natural plant products have been consumed for centuries for health maintenance and treatment of a variety of diseases in various traditional approaches of medicine in Egypt and all over the world. Holy Quran, from more than 1400 years, has been directed the human attention toward certain herbs and fruits, including olive, which are definitely have physical and mental benefits to humans and known as prophetic medicine. Olive leaves extract (OLE) exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Aim of study: The present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant role of OLE in diabetes-induced reproductive damage in young male rats.

Material and method: In this experimental study 32 of young male albino rats were used, then divided into four groups, (n=8 in each group), control, olive leaves extract, diabetic and diabetic treated with olive leaves extract. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 65 mg/ kg body weight in 1ml of freshly prepared 0.1M citrate buffer (pH 4.5), after 15 minutes of a single-dose administration of nicotinamide (NA) (230 mg/kg b. wt.; dissolved in normal saline). Olive leaves extract dose was 15 mg/kg b. w. for month; day after day by gastric- intubation.

Results: In diabetic animals treated with OLE, the testicular weight, sperm count, serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels were improved. Further, OLE administration improved the antioxidant status in the testicular tissues of the diabetic young rats, via improving the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (Cat), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione S Transferase (GST) activities, and enhancement of the glutathione (GSH) content in parallel with declines the malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels.

ConclusionOLE improved the reproductive dysfunction via regulation of FSH, LH, Testosteron levels in the serum and the antioxidant status in the testicular tissuesof young diabetic rats. Therefore, regular administration of low doses of OLE is recommended to decrease the risk of infertility to regulate the different complications of diabetes in men.

Keywords: Olive leaves extract, anti-diabetic, testicular dysfunction, nicotinamide-streptozotocin.