Abstract
Recently, bio-nanofabrication becomes one of the widest methods for synthesizing nanoparticles (NPs); however, there is scanty literature exploring the toxicity of these green NPs against living organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the potential protective role of encapsulated cinnamon oil (ECO) against titanium oxide nanoparticle (TiO
NP)-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, chromosomal aberration, and reproductive disturbances in male mice. Sixty male Balb/c mice were distributed into six groups treated orally for 3 weeks and included control group, TiO
NP-treated group (25 mg/kg b.w), ECO at low or high dose-treated groups (50 or 100 mg/kg b.w), and the groups that received TiO
NPs plus ECO at a low or high dose. The results of GC-MS revealed the isolation of 21 compounds and the majority was cinnamaldehyde. The average size zeta potential of TiO
NPs and ECO were 28.9 and 321 nm and -33.97 and -17.35 mV, respectively. TiO
NP administration induced significant changes in liver and kidney function, decreased antioxidant capacity, and increased oxidative stress markers in liver and kidney, DNA damage in the hepatocytes, the number of chromosomal aberrations in the bone marrow and germ cells, and sperm abnormalities along with histological changes in the liver, kidney, and testis. Co-administration of TiO
NPs and ECO could alleviate these disturbances in a dose-dependent manner. It could be concluded that ECO is a promising and safe candidate for the protection against the health hazards of TiO
NPs.