Adiantum capillus-veneris L. modulates reproductive dysfunctions linked to Furan induced oxidative stress and histopathological alteration in adult male Sprague Dawley rats

Abstract

Furan is a volatile heterocyclic organic “high-production-volume” chemical with low molecular weight formed from numerous predecessor molecules naturally present in food during numerous steps of processing, which involve Maillard reaction. Adiantum capillus-veneris L. also known as southern maidenhair fern is an evergreen perennial fern which belongs to family Pteridaceae. It is a medicinal plant having antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antialopecia. anti-urolithiasis, anti-inflammatory benefits. The current study was designed to investigate the ameliorative effects of methanolic leaf extract of Adiantum capillus-veneris L. against oxidative stress and histopathological alteration caused by furan in adult male Sprague Dawley rats. To conduct the present study, twenty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups; Group 1 was regarded as ‘control group’ and treated with 0.9% normal saline, Group 2 received 40mg/kg of furan dissolved in corn oil, Group 3 rats were provided with 250mg/kg of methanolic leaf extract of Adiantum-capillus veneris L. and group 4 animals were administered with 40 mg/kg of furan along with 250mg/kg leaf extract of plant for 28 consecutive days. On day 29, all the animals were weighed and sacrificed by decapitation. Blood samples were taken, followed by plasma extraction, and stored at -20˚C for biochemical analysis. For histological studies, epididymis and right testis were fixed in 10% formalin. The results showed that furan administration induced a notable (p<0.01) decline in body and testicular weight, decreased antioxidants concentrations of catalase (p<0.01), peroxidases (p<0.05) and sodium dismutase (p<0.01) in furan treatment group in comparison with control, whereas a noteworthy increase in number of reactive oxygen species (p<0.05) and thiobarbituric acid reactive species was evident. However, ACV treatment group showed conflicting effects for all these studied parameters. On the contrary, the findings of Furan+ACV were comparable to that of control, showing parallel results. Histopathological changes in the testis of rats were induced by furan as seen by decreased tubular diameter (p<0.001), lumen diameter (p<0.001), and increased epithelial height (p<0.01) in furan treated group, when comparison was made with control, while analysis of testes in Furan+ACV group showed restoration of disturbances caused by furan. The study concluded that furan decreases body weight and accessory organ weight, lowers antioxidants, increases oxidative stress, and brings histopathological Abstract Adiantum capillus-veneris L. modulates reproductive dysfunctions linked to Furan induced oxidative stress and histopathological alteration in adult male Sprague Dawley rats. 2 changes in testes, whereas ACV treated group showed contradictory results, further we found that ACV restored toxicological effects caused by furan in Furan+ACV group. Therefore, it is suggested that reproductive toxicity of furan in rats can be restored by ACV due to its antioxidant, antiobesity effects, and protective effects on reproductive system and thus, can be used to treat reproductive health problems.