Effects of Turmeric on Manganese-induced Redox Imbalance in Testicular Tissues: Histo-micrometric and Biochemical...

Manganese is the most overlooked chemical element, though it is the 5^th most abundant metal in earth' crust. Despite being important in the body's mechanisms, bioaccumulation of manganese in living organisms can be noxious. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of manganese on male mice's reproductive parameters, and turmeric was used as a remedial agent against manganese-induced potential subchronic toxicity. Healthy male mice were distributed into seven groups (n = 10), Control (untreated), Vehicle control; VC-I (0.1 ml of saline solution), Mn-I (5 mg/Kg BW), Mn-II (10 mg/Kg BW), Mn-III (20 mg/Kg BW), Mn + T (20 mg of Mn/Kg +100 mg turmeric/Kg BW) and Vehicle control; VC-II (0.1 ml of olive oil) via oral gavage routinely, once a day. The experiment was continued for 28 days. Before administrations, the antioxidant capacity of turmeric was evaluated via FRAP, TPC & GC-MS assays. Mice were acclimatized for 10 days after dosing, then euthanized and samples (testis & blood) were recovered. Morphological observations showed minute morphological changes in testes as compared to controls. Morphometric analysis revealed average body weight, testis weight and size of Mn-intoxicated mice were reduced remarkably (P ≤ 0.05) in comparison with the control group. Sideways Mn + T group showed non-significant changes in both parameters. Hematological, micrometric findings and serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05) in Mn-exposed groups against controls. These alterations were concomitant with histological variations in Mn-treated groups. While such deviations were less obvious in the Mn + T-administered group. The aforesaid findings deduced that the turmeric supplementation manifested improvements in most of the histo-micrometric, hematological, steroidal parameters and enzymatic indices of mice through its antioxidant action.