Protective Effects of Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum) Extract Against Apoptosis in Lead Acetate-Induced Mice Testicular
Reny I'tishom1,2,3,4, Agustinus Agustinus1,2,4, Siti Khaerunnisa4,5
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.
Purpose:
To evaluate the protective effects of Tamarillo (Solanum betaceum Cav) extract on lead acetate-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis in male mice.
Methods:
A post-test-only control group experimental study was conducted on Balb/c mice. Thirty-five male mice 12 weeks old were randomly divided into 5 groups: two control groups (K-, K+) and three treatment groups (P1, P2, P3). The K- received distilled water, and the K+ received 75 mg/kg lead acetate. The P1, P2, and P3 received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of Tamarillo crude extracts (TCE), respectively for 35 days, and on the fourth day, were given lead acetate 75 mg/kg one hour after the TCE administration by gavage tube. The effect of TCE against lead-induced oxidative stress in mice was determined by the expression of mouse testicular apoptosis using terminal deoxynucleotidyl Transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, the expression of Caspase-3, and SOD.
Results:
TCE at the dose of 400 mg/kg showed comparable apoptosis and SOD expression to the negative control group (K-). Notably, the level of Caspase-3 among treatment groups showed lower expression than the K- group despite the injection of lead acetate.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrated that TCE exhibits antioxidant activity and protects the reproductive system by inhibiting lead acetate to induce oxidative damage and testicular damage.
Insights
Tamarillo crude extract (TCE) protects male mice from lead acetate-induced testicular damage. The extract demonstrated antioxidant activity, significantly reducing germ cell apoptosis and oxidative stress.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive toxicology
- Natural product chemistry
- Oxidative stress research
Background:
- Lead acetate is a known reproductive toxicant, inducing oxidative stress and testicular germ cell apoptosis in male mammals.
- Solanum betaceum Cav. (Tamarillo) is a fruit with reported medicinal properties, warranting investigation into its potential protective effects against xenobiotic-induced damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the protective effects of Tamarillo crude extract (TCE) against lead acetate-induced testicular germ cell apoptosis in male mice.
- To assess the antioxidant activity of TCE in mitigating lead-induced oxidative stress in the testes.
Main Methods:
- A post-test-only control group design was employed using Balb/c mice.
- Mice were administered varying doses of TCE (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) or distilled water, followed by lead acetate (75 mg/kg) exposure.
- Testicular apoptosis was evaluated using the TUNEL assay, alongside Caspase-3 expression and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity measurements.
Main Results:
- Tamarillo crude extract (TCE) at 400 mg/kg demonstrated comparable apoptosis and SOD expression levels to the negative control group.
- Caspase-3 expression was notably lower in treatment groups compared to the negative control, despite lead acetate administration.
- The extract exhibited significant protective effects against lead-induced oxidative damage.
Conclusions:
- Tamarillo crude extract (TCE) possesses significant antioxidant properties.
- TCE effectively protects the male reproductive system from lead acetate-induced oxidative and testicular damage.
- Solanum betaceum Cav. extract shows promise as a therapeutic agent for mitigating heavy metal-induced reproductive toxicity.
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