Abstract
Testicular toxicity has been implicated as a remote cause of infertility in men. In this study, we aimed at investigating the ameliorative potentials of Artemisa herba-alba against calcium tetrachloride (CCl4) induced toxicity in rats and its influence on ERCC1 gene expression. Four groups of twenty male Wistar rats (n =5) were created at random. Group I was the untreated control group. Group II was given a dose of 0.4 ml/200g CCl4 orally every other day for 3 weeks. Group III was given a dose (500 mg/ kg b.w) of Artemisia herba-alba (ART) extract orally every other day for 3 weeks. Group IV, received an oral dose of an extract of Artemisia herba-alba at a dose level of (500 mg/ kg b.w) alternated every other day with 0.4 ml/200g of CCl4 at a dose for 3 weeks. Bodyweight, relative kidney weight, serum testosterone, tissue oxidative stress, the expression of the ERCC1 gene, and testis histology were accessed. Our results showed that the administration of CCl4 to rats led to a decrease in body weight, tissue GSH, serum testosterone, increase in lipid peroxidation, an upregulation of ERCC1 gene expression, and modification of testicular histology. However, Artemisa herba-alba treatment following CCl4 administration to rats resulted in the restoration of testicular histology and the downregulation of ERCC1 gene expression in addition to modestly maintaining the body weight of rats and serum testosterone level. More studies with a prolonged treatment duration are, therefore, required to establish ART as a potential therapeutic for its use in testicular toxicity. Copyright (c) 2013 -All Rights Reserved -Pharmacophore