Abstract
Cichorium endivia
L. (Asteraceae) is a wide edible plant that grows in the Mediterranean region. In this study, a phytochemical investigation of
C. endivia
L. ethanolic extract led to the isolation of stigmasterol (
1
), ursolic acid (
2
),
β
-amyrin (
3
), azelaic acid (
4
), vanillic acid (
5
), (6S, 7E)-6-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3,9-dione (S(+)-dehydrovomifoliol) (
6
), 4-hydroxy phenyl acetic acid (
7
), vomifoliol (
8
), ferulic acid (
9
), protocatechuic acid (
10
), kaempferol (
11
),
p
. coumaric acid (
12
), and luteolin (
13
). In addition, the total phenolic content as well as the in vitro antioxidant activity of
C. endivia
L. extract were estimated. Moreover, we inspected the potential gonado-protective effect of
C. endivia
crude extract, its phenolic fraction, and the isolated coumaric, vanillic, and ferulic acids against methotrexate (MTX)-induced testicular injury in mice. There were seven groups: normal control, MTX control, MTX +
C. endivia
crude extract, MTX +
C. endivia
phenolic fraction, MTX + isolated coumaric acid, MTX + isolated vanillic acid, and MTX + isolated ferulic acid. MTX was given by i.p. injection of a 20 mg/kg single dose. The crude extract and phenolic fraction were given with a dose of 100 mg/kg/day, whereas the compounds were given at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day. A histopathological examination was done. The testosterone level was detected in serum together with the testicular content of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated x protein (Bax), p53, and miR-29a.
C. endivia
crude extract, the phenolic fraction, and the isolated compounds showed significant elevation in their levels of testosterone, CAT, SOD, Bcl-2 with a significant decrease in their levels of MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, Bax, P53, and miR-29a compared to those of the MTX control group. In conclusion,
C. endivia
mitigated MTX-induced germ cell toxicity via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic effects.