Protective Effects of Fig and Olive Extracts on 2-Nitropropane Testicular Toxicity in Mice

Background and Objective: Figs and olives have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, while 2-Nitropropane (2-NP), a solvent in industrial processes, has been linked to adverse health effects, including liver, kidney, nervous system and reproductive organ toxicity. The protective effects of figs and/or olive extracts against testicular dysfunction induced by (2-NP) were investigated. Materials and Methods: An 8-week dose of 2-NP was administered 3 times weekly. Group I, intraperitoneally injected (i.i) with 0.9% NaCl, II (i.i) with 2-NP (100 mg/kg b.wt.), III (i.i) with 2-NP and with fig (300 mg/kg), IV (i.i) with 2-NP and with olive (100 mg/kg) and V (i.i) with 2-NP and with a mixture of fig and olive (1:1). The measured parameters were lipid peroxidation (LPO), Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD), Glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GSH-Px), Glutathione S-Transferase (GSH-ST), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and plasma testosterone level. The expression of PCNA and Cas-3 was also detected. GraphPad software version 0.7, with One-way Variance Analysis (ANOVA) was used as a statistical method. Results: Results indicated an elevation in testes (LPO), a decrease in (G6PD), (GSH), (GSH-Px), (GSH-ST) levels, the activity of (SOD), (CAT) and testosterone levels, with degeneration of testicular architecture tissue. Supplementation with fig and/or olive extractions may ameliorate these changes. Concerning immunohistochemical analysis, concentrations of testosterone in fig, olive or the combination along with 2-NP increased significantly. Caspase-3 marker showed moderate to strong reactions, all groups exhibited weak reactions with (PCNA). Conclusion: Dietary supplementation of fig and/or olive extracts may offer protection against testicular toxicity induced by 2-NP.