Antioxidant property of Plantago major leaf extracts reduces testicular torsion/detorsion-induced ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

The present study was aimed to determine the protective effects of Plantago major L (PM) leaf extracts on the testicular torsion/detorsion (T/D)-induced ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Twenty-four mature male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200-220 g, were selected. They were randomly divided into four groups of six animals each: Sham (sham-operated rats; all the surgical steps were performed but T/D was not induced), TDC (Control group; T/D was induced and the right testicular torsion of 720° lasting two hours was followed by detorsion), TDP50 (T/D-operated rats received 50.00 mg kg^-1 of PM extract daily for seven days intraperitoneally after detorsion) and TDP100 (T/D-operated rats received 100 mg kg^-1 of PM extract daily for seven days intraperitoneally after detorsion). After seven days of treatment, the right testicles were collected. Histopathological and biochemical analyses including levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT) and peroxidase activities were determined in testicular tissues of the rats. Tissue sections were taken from testis, Hematoxylin-Eosin staining was done, and the slides were examined by a light microscope. The level of MDA was significantly increased in the testes of the TDC group. The CAT activity levels were decreased significantly after I/R. The post-torsion treatment with PM, particularly at 100 mg kg^-1, prevented the increase in lipid peroxidation and reduced the CAT activity levels. The PM also prevented I/R-induced cellular damage and histological changes in the testicular tissues. According to the results of the current study, PM leaf extracts had significant positive effects on the testicular T/D-induced I/R injury. The possible mechanism of reduction in biochemical and histological injuries by PM extracts could be due to antioxidant property.

Keywords: Antioxidant; Ischemia/reperfusion injury; Plantago major; Rat; Testicular torsion.