Protective Effect of <i>Portulaca oleracea</i> on Streptozotocin-Induced Type I Diabetes-Associated Reproductive System Dysfunction and Inflammation
Hassan Rakhshandeh,
Hamed Rajabi Khasevan,
Anella Saviano,
Mohammad Reza Mahdinezhad,
Vafa Baradaran Rahimi,
Sajjad Ehtiati,
Leila Etemad,
Alireza Ebrahimzadeh-bideskan,
Francesco Maione,
Vahid Reza Askari
Affiliations
Hassan Rakhshandeh
Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran
Hamed Rajabi Khasevan
Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran
Anella Saviano
ImmunoPharmaLab, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Mohammad Reza Mahdinezhad
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran
Vafa Baradaran Rahimi
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran
Sajjad Ehtiati
Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran
Leila Etemad
Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran
Alireza Ebrahimzadeh-bideskan
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Pardis Campus, Azadi Square, Mashhad 9177948564, Iran
Francesco Maione
ImmunoPharmaLab, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Vahid Reza Askari
ImmunoPharmaLab, Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Background: Type-one diabetes (T1D), a chronic autoimmune disease with marked inflammatory responses, is associated with infertility complications and implications. Based on the anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-hyperlipidemic potential of Portulaca oleracea (PO), this study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of this plant extract on streptozotocin-induced type-I-diabetes-associated reproductive system dysfunction and inflammation. Methods: Male rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: control, diabetic, and treatment/s (PO extract at 100 or 300 mg/kg/daily). Then food and water consumption, body, testis and epididymis weights, histopathological evaluation, seminiferous tubules diameter, sperm count and motility, glucose levels, sex hormones, and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were evaluated. Results: Our results showed that streptozotocin-induced diabetes significantly increased food and water consumption; increased glucose, MDA, TGF-β1, and TNF-α levels; and decreased the seminiferous tubules diameter, sperm count and motility, levels of LH, testosterone, total thiol, VEGF, and SOD activity. Interestingly, PO extract (phytochemically characterized by using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry to detect bioactive molecules) significantly ameliorated these parameters and histopathological indexes’ damage in rats. Conclusion. Even if more preclinical assessments are needed to better characterize the mechanism/s of action, the results of this study will pave the way for the rational use of PO on diabetic-associated clinical complications and implications.