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Updated: Jun 13, 2025
Salinity-dependent Toxicity Assay of Silver Nanocolloids Using Medaka Eggs
Published on: March 18, 2016
Quantitative assessment of Nigella sativa and conjugated silver nanoparticles against hexavalent chromium toxic
Tooba Nauroze1, Shaukat Ali2, Shagufta Andleeb3
1Medical Toxicology and Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan; Department of Zoology, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan.
Background:
Infertility has been observed as one of the major issues in humans, one known risk factor is heavy metals.
Methods:
The main focus of the present research was to assess the toxic effect of hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) on sperm and its mitigation by Nigella sativa seed extract (NS) and its conjugated silver nanoparticles (NS + NP). In the present study, we administered 1.5 mg/kg body of Cr (VI) orally in mice for 60 days routinely, to induce toxicity in testes and effect on sperm production and motility in male mice. NS and NS + NP (50 mg/kg body weight) were administered to evaluate protective action against Cr (VI). The sperm were analyzed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) and chromium concentration in testicular tissue was measured via the atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Results:
The CASA analysis showed that Cr (VI) was directly linked with a decline in sperm concentration, motility, distance, velocity, straightness, and head beat frequency attributes. However, the administration of Nigella sativa seed extract and its green synthesized silver nanoparticles improved sperm concentration, motility, distance, velocity, straightness, and head beat frequency. The chromium content in the testes of Cr-exposed animals significantly increased, which negatively affected sperm parameters. However, Nigella sativa and Nigella sativa conjugated silver nanoparticles appeared to help in the removal of Cr content from testes hence improving the sperm parameters in exposed mice.
Conclusion:
The decrease in Cr concentration improved sperm quality and quantity, hence, improve male fertility.
