Dietary CCPS from bitter gourd attenuates sodium arsenite induced female reproductive ailments cum infertility in wistar rats: anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic role.

This investigation explored a dietary therapy of pectic polysaccharide (CCPS) (2 mg/ Kg BW) against female repro-toxicity and infertility triggered by sodium arsenite (As³⁺) (10 mg/ Kg BW) in Wistar rats. The isolated CCPS consists of D-galactose and D-methyl galacturonate with a molar ratio of 1: 4. FTIR spectral analysis of CCPS and CCPS- sodium arsenite (As³⁺) complex indicated a possible chelating property of CCPS in presence of binding sites (OH^-/COOH) for As³⁺. Series of negatively charged galacturonate residues in CCPS provide better potential for cation chelation. CCPS significantly mitigated As³⁺ induced ovarian, uterine lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by the restoration of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. CCPS post-treatment enhanced ovarian steroidogenesis along with a restoration of normal tissue histoarchitecture in As³⁺ fed rats by regulating the estradiol receptor alpha (ER-α). CCPS suppressed anti-inflammatory properties effectively found since a down-regulation of NF-kappa B (NF-қB), pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were observed in arsenicated rats with CCPS. This study confirmed the up-regulation of uterine pro-apoptotic/ apoptotic proteins caspase-3, poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), phospho p53 and Bax, followed by down-regulation of Bcl-2 and protein Kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway along with uterine tissue regeneration in As³⁺ exposed rats. Oral CCPS attenuated the above apoptotic expressional changes significantly and dietary CCPS ensured successful fertility with the birth of healthy pups in lieu of infertile condition in As³⁺ fed rats. Moreover, this study also supports that CCPS treatment attenuated the As³⁺ toxicity by modulating the S-adenosine methionine (SAM) pool components, B₁₂, folate and homocysteine.