Protective effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. extract against cyclophosphamide-induced testicular toxicity in rats

This study aimed to investigate the potential protective role of Rosmarinus officinalis L. extract (rosemary extract [RE]) against cyclophosphamide (CYC)-induced reproductive toxicity in the testes.

Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n=6): control, CYC (received a single dose of 200 mg/kg intraperitoneally [i.p.]), CYC+RE200 (received a single dose of 200 mg/kg CYC and 200 mg/kg/day RE orally for 6 weeks), and CYC+RE1000 (received a single dose of 200 mg/kg CYC and 1,000 mg/kg/day RE orally for 6 weeks). Following the experimental procedures, sperm motility, testosterone concentrations, and histopathological alterations in the testes were evaluated. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess the expression of the genes encoding zona pellucida binding protein (ZPBP), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), and Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax).

The findings showed that CYC therapy reduced seminiferous tubule diameter, epithelium height, and cell counts, as well as testosterone levels and sperm motility. Interestingly, treatment with RE effectively increased sperm motility (p<0.01), testosterone level (p<0.0001), seminiferous tubule diameter (p<0.01), epithelium height (p<0.01), and cell number (p<0.0001). In addition, RE treatment led to a notable rise in Bcl2 and ZPBP expression levels. Although Bax expression was reduced, the decrease was not statistically significant.

In conclusion, RE appears to provide protection against CYC-induced testicular injury.