Ameliorative Effect of Green Tea Catechin Against Cadmium Chloride-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Mice

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of green tea catechin (7500 µg/kg/animal/day) against cadmium-induced testicular dysfunctions and oxidative stress in the testes of mice. For this purpose, Swiss albino mice were divided into six groups: group I, negative control; group II, catechin-treated control; group III, cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-treated control; group IV, experimental group I; group V, experimental group II; and group VI, experimental group III. Animals from all of these groups were necropsied at various post-treatment intervals between 12 hours and 30 days for various biochemical alterations in the testes. CdCl2 intoxication resulted in a significant decline in testicular total proteins, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase, whereas acid phosphatase and lipid peroxidation exhibited a noticeable augmentation as compared to negative control. Catechin treatment effectively protected CdCl2-induced alterations in all such parameters throughout the experiment. Catechin was effective in reducing the CdCl2-induced augmentation of phase I (P450 and CYPB5) as well as phase II (DT-diaphorase and glutathione-S-transferase) enzymes in testes. Furthermore, CdCl2 intoxication was found to attenuate the antioxidant potential of testes, which was however augmented when supplemented with green tea extract. Compared to CdCl2-treated control mice, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and catalase levels were significantly decreased in testes. Indeed, green tea catechin significantly increased testicular antioxidant enzymatic activities compared to those given CdCl2 alone. In conclusion, the use of green tea extract appeared to be beneficial to a great extent in inhibiting and restoring the testicular injuries induced by CdCl2 intoxication in mammals.