Bitter Melon <i>(momordica Charantia)</I> Fruit Extract Ameliorates Methotrexate-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Rats

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2021

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Marmara Univ, Fac Medicine

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Objective: Methotrexate (MTX) is a drug commonly used for the treatment of malign neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of bitter melon (BM) were reported. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of BM fruit extract on MTX-induced testicular and epididymal damage. Materials and Methods: Sprague Dawley male rats were divided into three groups (n=8) as control, MTX and MTX+BM. A single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to the MTX and MTX+BM groups. BM fruit extract (600 mg/kg) was applied to the MTX+BM group orally for 5 days. Testes were examined for general histopathology, proliferating and apoptotic cells. The epididymis samples were used for the evaluation of sperm morphology. Oxidative and inflammatory markers were analysed biochemically. Results: Increased abnormal spermatozoa, degenerated seminiferous tubules with increased apoptotic cells and decreased proliferative cells were observed in the MTX group. TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and caspase-3 levels increased, superoxide dismutase and catalase levels decreased in both testis and epididymis samples. All these histological and biochemical parameters were ameliorated in the MTX+BM group. Conclusion: Methotrexate causes testis damage by decreasing spermatogenic cells and increasing apoptosis through oxidative stress and inflammation. BM extract improves testis and epididymis damage with its possible anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

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Sener, Goksel/0000-0001-7444-6193; Ercan, Feriha/0000-0003-2339-5669; Cevik, Ozge/0000-0002-9325-3757; Kanpalta Mustafaoglu, Fatma/0000-0001-9832-6938; Sen, Ali/0000-0002-2144-5741

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Methotrexate, Bitter Melon, Testis, Epididymis, Oxidative Stress

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4

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Q4

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Volume

34

Issue

3

Start Page

222

End Page

228