Zingerone Mitigates Testicular Dysfunction Induced by Cisplatin

Cisplatin is one of the most widely used antitumor drugs globally, particularly in treating various solid tumors. The reproductive system is impacted by cisplatin toxic effects. This study aims to understand how Zingerone affects spermatogenesis defects in mice.

In the present experimental laboratory study, the 48 male NMRI mice (6 to 8 weeks of age, 25 to 30g weight) were treated with Cisplatin (7 mg/kg) for 5 days and zingerone for 30 days at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg before cisplatin administration. After the treatment period, the testicles were dissected immediately following sacrifice. Morphometric parameters, serum testosterone concentration, histology, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and testis weight have been assessed. To determine levels of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde contents and antioxidant levels were evaluated.

Cisplatin-induced structural damages enhanced the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and reduced testosterone levels and testis weight. Cisplatin caused oxidative stress by enhancing malondialdehyde contents in the mouse testicles. Zingerone dose-dependently reduced the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and reversed the histological changes, testosterone levels, and antioxidant capacity.

According to the results of the present study, Pretreatment with zingerone can improve testosterone production by preventing apoptosis and oxidative stress in the testicles of mice that have undergone cisplatin intoxication.