{"id":48539,"date":"2023-06-30T10:44:30","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T10:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biomedpharmajournal.org\/?p=48539"},"modified":"2023-07-11T06:27:38","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T06:27:38","slug":"effect-of-wheatgrass-juice-on-fertility-changes-induced-by-cyclophosphamide-in-male-wistar-albino-rats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biomedpharmajournal.org\/staging\/vol16no2\/effect-of-wheatgrass-juice-on-fertility-changes-induced-by-cyclophosphamide-in-male-wistar-albino-rats\/","title":{"rendered":"Effect of Wheatgrass Juice on Fertility Changes Induced by Cyclophosphamide in Male Wistar Albino Rats"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Introduction<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Infertility is a major issue faced by couples worldwide. WHO defines infertility as an inability of a couple to conceive after one or more years of unprotected intercourse. It affects approximately 15% of couple who have unprotected intercourse. Infertility affects 8 percent of the world\u2019s population globally<sup>1<\/sup>. About 20-30% of population is affected by male factor infertility. In India, around 3.9-16.8% of male suffer from male infertility with the incidence being high in Kashmir<sup>2<\/sup>. There are many physiological and conventional causes for infertility,<\/p>\n<p>among these one of the potential factor is oxidative stress<sup>3<\/sup>. It is the condition where the homeostasis between ROS and antioxidants are disturbed which leads to decreased sperm count &amp; motility, increased DNA damage, deformity and male infertility. This is due to increased levels of ROS or decreased antioxidant counter mechanism<sup>4,5<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an alkylating, anticancer agent, which is extensively used to treat several types of cancers. It also has a potent immunosuppressive effect because of which it is used in organ transplantation and autoimmune diseases<sup>6<\/sup>. Acrolein is one of the metabolites of cyclophosphamide, which causes lethal effects on normal cells by activating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide production. Cyclophosphamide is known to cause sperm damage to the DNA and alteration in the gene expression of male germ cells<sup>7,8<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>Wheatgrass (WG) (<em>T. aestivum<\/em>) belongs to the family Graminae. It has high chlorophyll content and rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (SOD &amp;Cytochrome oxidase). Wheatgrass also has rich amount of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and alkaloids which have antioxidant property. Literature studies showed that wheatgrass has antidiabetic, anticancer, antiulcer, antiarthritic and hepatoprotective properties<sup>9<\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p>Antioxidant supplementation may be effective as treatment depending on the pathology of male infertility<sup>10<\/sup>. Thus, the aim of present study was to evaluate the protective role of WGJ on cyclophosphamide-induced male infertility.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-top: 8.2pt; text-align: justify;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-US\">Materials and Method<\/span><\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In current study, 150-250gm weighing adult male Wistar albino rats were used and kept under standard laboratory conditions. Rats were housed in polypropylene cages in a room at temperature 25<sup>0<\/sup>C with 12:12hr dark and light cycle. Water and food were given ad libitum.<\/p>\n<p>Cyclophosphamide (Endoxan, 500mg) was purchased from Manipal pharmacy of Manipal and the test drug Wheatgrass powder (Brand-Organic India) was obtained by online store. Wheatgrass juice was used to administer by dissolving the powder in distilled water.<\/p>\n<p>A total of 36 animals were randomly divided into 6 groups. Each group consisted of 6 rats. Cyclophosphamide was given as a single dose and Wheatgrass juice was given for about 30 days. After 24 hours of last treatment, rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and further studies were carried out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Table showing a brief outline of different groups and doses of drugs&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 95%;\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"4\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"226\"><strong>GROUPS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"336\"><strong>DRUGS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"166\"><strong>RATS<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"226\"><strong>I (positive control)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"336\">Normal saline<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"166\">6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"226\"><strong>II (negative control)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"336\">Cyclophosphamide (150mg\/kg) i.p<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"166\">6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"226\"><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>III (test)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"336\">Cyclophosphamide (150mg\/kg) i.p<\/p>\n<p>+ Wheatgrass juice (100mg\/kg) orally<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"166\">6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"226\"><strong>IV (test)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"336\">Cyclophosphamide (150mg\/kg) i.p<\/p>\n<p>+ Wheatgrass juice (400mg\/kg) orally<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"166\">6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"226\"><strong>V (test)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"336\">Wheatgrass juice (100mg\/kg)(10)<\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>orally<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"166\">6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"226\"><strong>VI (test)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"336\">Wheatgrass juice (400mg\/kg)(11)<\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>orally<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"166\">6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Parameters Measured<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Body weight: Body weight of each rat was measured at the beginning and after the completion of treatment period.<\/p>\n<p>Reproductive organ weight: Reproductive organs were removed and weighed after sacrifice of rats.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sperm functions analysis<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sperm count<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After weighing the epididymis, using 1ml of phosphate buffer solution the epididymis was minced with anatomical scissors to obtain a suspension. This was then filtered through an 80\u03bcm of nylon mesh. Using standard method Neubauer chamber, sperm count was conducted in the filtrate.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sperm Mass motility<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Percentage of motile sperms were calculated by using three different fields in each sample, motility estimations were performed and the mean of the three samples was taken as the final motility score<sup>11<\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Histopathology<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Testis of each rat was taken for histopathological evaluation. Qualitative analysis was done to look for vacuoles, gaps &amp; sloughing of epithelium, which indicate the extent of tissue damage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Procedure<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The testicular tissues were embedded in paraffin and washed with series of graded alcohol. The tissue sections were taken and mounted on slides later staining of the tissues were done by using hematoxylin and eosin stain followed by dehydration and lastly mounted by using DPX<sup>12<\/sup>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biochemical analysis<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Antioxidant assay<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Testicular tissue was used for checking MDA (malondialdehyde) levels, catalase, SOD and Glutathione levels.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Statistical analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey\u2019s post hoc analysis was used to compare the means between the groups. p-value &lt; 0.05 accepted as statistically significant. Results of all groups were expressed in mean value \u00b1 SD.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Results<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Table 1: Results showing initial and final body weight, testicular weight and epididymis weight of<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;rats.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 95%;\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"4\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"210\"><strong>Group<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"173\"><strong>Body weight Day 1(gm)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"150\"><strong>Body weight Day 30 (gm)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"127\"><strong>Testicular weight (gm)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"120\"><strong>Epididymis<\/strong> <strong>weight (gm)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"210\"><strong>1. Control<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"173\">191.66 \u00b1 26.39<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"150\">236.67 \u00b1 32.66<sup>a,c<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"127\">1.49 \u00b1 0.05<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"120\">0.31 \u00b1 0.01<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"210\"><strong>2. Cyclophospham<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>ide<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"173\">193.33 \u00b1 30.11<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"150\">135.00 \u00b1 28.81<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"127\">0.87 \u00b1 0.08<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"120\">0.12 \u00b1 0.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"210\"><strong>3. Cyclophospham ide<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; wheatgrass juice 100mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"173\">193.5 \u00b1 24.44<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"150\">196.67 \u00b1 10.33<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"127\">1.30 \u00b1 0.01<sup>a,d<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"120\">0.21 \u00b1 0.01a,d,f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"210\"><strong>4. Cyclophospham<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>ide + wheatgrass juice 400mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"173\">211.66 \u00b1 26.96<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"150\">193.33 \u00b1 31.57<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"127\">1.34 \u00b1 0.03<sup>a,d<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"120\">0.22 \u00b1 0.02a,d,f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"210\"><strong>5. Wheatgrass juice 100mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"173\">&nbsp;200.83 \u00b1 18.55<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"150\">&nbsp;243.50 \u00b1 7.58a,b,c<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"127\">&nbsp;1.46 \u00b1 0.04<sup>a,e<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"120\">&nbsp;0.31 \u00b1 0.01<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"210\"><strong>6. Wheatgrass juice 400mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"173\">194.66 \u00b1 17.11<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"150\">221.67 \u00b1 12.11<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"127\">1.40 \u00b1 0.04a,d,e<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"120\">0.24 \u00b1 0.03<sup>a,d<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Level of significance <em>p <\/em>&lt; 0.05<\/p>\n<p>a-compared to Group 2, b- compared to Group 3, c- compared to Group 4, d- compared to control, e- compared to Group 3 and f- compared to Group 5<\/p>\n<p><strong>Table 2: Results showing sperm function analysis.<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 95%;\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"4\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"377\"><strong>Group<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"165\"><strong>Sperm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; count<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>(10<\/strong><strong>6<\/strong><strong>\/mL)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"164\"><strong>Sperm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; motility<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>(%)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"377\"><strong>1. Control<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"165\">105.33 \u00b1 2.80<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"164\">26.92 \u00b1 2.13<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"377\"><strong>2. Cyclophosphamide<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"165\">34.40 \u00b1 2.47<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"164\">6.20 \u00b1 0.84<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"377\"><strong>3. Cyclophosphamide<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>+ wheatgrass juice 100mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"165\">69.86 \u00b1 4.94<sup>a,b,c<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"164\">23.69 \u00b1 4.91<sup>a,d<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"377\"><strong>4. Cyclophosphamide&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; +&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; wheatgrass<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>juice 400mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"165\">78.13 \u00b1 2.97<sup>a,b,c<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"164\">27.86 \u00b1 3.73<sup>a,d<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"377\"><strong>5. Wheatgrass juice 100mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"165\">108.26 \u00b1 11.87<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"164\">20.70 \u00b1 1.79<sup>a,d,e<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"377\"><strong>6. Wheatgrass juice 400mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"165\">111.46 \u00b1 9.01<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"164\">26.65 \u00b1 3.06<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Level of significance <em>p <\/em>&lt; 0.05<\/p>\n<p>a-compared to Group 2, b- compared to control, c- compared to Group 5&amp;6, d- compared to control and e- compared to Group 4<\/p>\n<p><strong>Table 3: Results showing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidants in the testes&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 95%;\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"4\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"234\"><strong>Group<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"155\"><strong>SOD<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Units\/mg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"156\"><strong>Catalase<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Units\/mg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"142\"><strong>GSH<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>mM\/mg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"140\"><strong>MDA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>nM\/mg<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"234\">1. <strong>Control<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"155\">0.077 \u00b1 0.005<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"156\">2.055 \u00b1 0.019<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"142\">0.201 \u00b1<strong> &nbsp;<\/strong>0.023<sup style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">a,e<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"140\">0.818 \u00b1 0.026<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"234\">2. <strong>Cyclophosphamid<\/strong><strong style=\"font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit;\">e<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"155\">0.057 \u00b1 0.004<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"156\">1.645 \u00b1 0.021<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"142\">0.090 \u00b1 0.008<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"140\">1.319 \u00b1 0.072<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"234\">3. <strong>Cyclophosphamid e <\/strong><strong style=\"font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit;\">+ wheatgrass juice 100mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"155\">0.093 \u00b1 0.008<sup>a,b<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"156\">1.995 \u00b1 0.071<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"142\">0.152 \u00b1 0.011<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"140\">1.005 \u00b1 0.023<sup style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">a,b<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"234\">4. <strong>Cyclophosphamid e + wheatgrass juice 400mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"155\">0.092 \u00b1 0.004<sup>a,b<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"156\">2.066 \u00b1 0.023<sup>a,d<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"142\">0.183 \u00b1 0.014<sup style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">a,e<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"140\">0.995 \u00b1 0.039<sup style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">a,b<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"234\">5. <strong>Wheatgrass juice 100mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"155\">0.085 \u00b1 0.003<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"156\">2.019 \u00b1 0.008<sup>a<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"142\">0.195 \u00b1 0.008<sup style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">a,e<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"140\">0.836 \u00b1 0.139<sup style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">a,f<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"234\">6. <strong>Wheatgrass juice<\/strong> <strong style=\"font-size: inherit; font-family: inherit;\">400mg\/kg<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"155\">0.095 \u00b1 0.003<sup>a,b,c<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"156\">2.104 \u00b1 0.017<sup>a,d,c<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"142\">0.218&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u00b1 0.011<sup style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">a,f<\/sup><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\" width=\"140\">0.837&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; \u00b1 0.139<sup style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">a,f<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Level of significance <em>p <\/em>&lt; 0.05<\/p>\n<p>a &#8211; Compared to Group 2, b- compared to control, c- compared to Group 5, d- compared to Group 3, e- compared to group 3, and f- compared to Group 3&amp;4<\/p>\n<p><strong>Body weight<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At the baseline, there was no significant difference was seen in body weight among any group. Animals treated with cyclophosphamide showed significant reduction in final mean body weight as compared all the other groups. The bodyweight was preserved in groups treated with cyclophosphamide plus wheatgrass juice and there was no statistically significant difference was seen on intergroup comparison. (Table 1).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Testicular and epidydimal weight<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The mean weight of testicular tissue and epididymis was significantly reduced in cyclophosphamide administered group. The reproductive organ weights of groups 3 and 4 were significantly reduced when compared with control. However, on intergroup comparison between group 3 &amp; 4, no statistically significant difference was seen. (Table 1).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Sperm parameters<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Sperm count and Sperm motility<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Significant reduction in number of sperms and percentage of motile sperms were seen in CP alone treated group when compared with the remaining groups. Significant increase in sperm quantity and quality was seen in groups treated with wheatgrass juice along with cyclophosphamide as compared to cyclophosphamide alone treated group. However, there was no significance was seen between the groups. (Table 2)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biochemical analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In biochemical analysis, changes in the activities of redox and antioxidant enzymes were estimated. The MDA levels of cyclophosphamide alone treated group was significantly higher in comparison to other groups. The SOD and MDA levels of groups 3 and 4 were significantly increased as compared with control, whereas all other parameters such as SOD, GSH&nbsp; and Catalase levels&nbsp; were decreased significantly in cyclophosphamide alone treated group in comparison to other groups. (Table 3).<\/p>\n<p>Histopathological examination:<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The testicular tissues stained in haematoxylin and eosin and observed for, I- Gaps between the seminiferous tubules, L- Lumen of the tubule S- Seminiferous epithelium<\/p>\n<p>Control group,&nbsp;CP 150mg\/kg, CP 150mg\/kg + WGJ 100mg\/kg, CP 150mg\/kg + WGJ 400mg\/kg, WGJ 100mg\/kg and WGJ 400mg\/kg<\/p>\n<p>Group 2 (figure 1. b) showed marked testicular damage which has increased gaps between the tubules and abnormal epithelium as compared to control (figure 1. a) group<\/p>\n<p>Group 3 and 4 (figure 1.c &amp; 1.d) showed better results compared to group 2 by retaining the comparatively normal epithelium and gaps between the tubules.<\/p>\n<p>Group 5 and 6 (figure 1.e &amp; 1.f) are comparatively similar to control in gaps, epithelium and lumen of the seminiferous tubules.<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 70%;\" border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/biomedpharmajournal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Vol16No2_Eff_Nav_fig1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-48543\" src=\"https:\/\/biomedpharmajournal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Vol16No2_Eff_Nav_fig1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Vol16No2_Eff_Nav_fig1\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/biomedpharmajournal.org\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Vol16No2_Eff_Nav_fig1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/biomedpharmajournal.org\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Vol16No2_Eff_Nav_fig1-256x256.jpg 256w, https:\/\/biomedpharmajournal.org\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Vol16No2_Eff_Nav_fig1.jpg 842w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td><strong>Figure 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/biomedpharmajournal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Vol16No2_Eff_Nav_fig1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here to view Figure<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"margin-top: 3.25pt;\"><strong><span lang=\"EN-US\">Discussion<\/span><\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Most of the chemotherapeutic drugs particularly alkylating agents are known to cause gonadotoxic effects. This study was done to evaluate the antioxidant effect of wheatgrass juice on male infertility, which was caused by cyclophosphamide.<\/p>\n<p>The results from present study showed that use of cyclophosphamide (150mg\/kg) produced fertility changes in the rats and the test dose of drug wheatgrass juice (100mg &amp; 400mg) showed a positive effect by preventing the reproductive toxicity\/oxidative damage produced by cyclophosphamide.<\/p>\n<p>Cyclophosphamide is an anticancer drug, which has been used in various studies. In our study, the results clearly shown that administration of cyclophosphamide-produced decrease in sperm parameters and reproductive organ weights as compared with other groups.<\/p>\n<p>The possible mechanism behind this is, cyclophosphamide exposure causes oxidative stress by increasing the production of ROS and generation of free radicals<sup>13<\/sup>. Acrolein is one of the metabolite of cyclophosphamide, which is known to cause reproductive toxicity by activating ROS and other free radicals, which are likely to cause DNA- protein or DNA-DNA crosslink and fragmentation of single strand, by alkylation.<\/p>\n<p>In our study from the results, we have noted that both 100mg and 400mg of wheatgrass juice was able to reverse the fertility changes caused by cyclophosphamide by increasing the reproductive organ weights and sperm parameters as compared to cyclophosphamide alone treated group, the possible mechanism behind this is antioxidant effect of wheatgrass juice.<\/p>\n<p>Jangle SN et al. and Rana S et al. said that wheatgrass is rich in antioxidants and they are used to treat various diseases like cancer, asthma, ulcerative colitis, IBD, thalassemia, diabetes,<\/p>\n<p>rheumatoid arthritis etc<sup>14<\/sup>. Antioxidants protect other molecules from free radical damage by preventing their oxidation (in vivo). Free radicals and reactive oxygen species have been held responsible for many diseases.<sup>15<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>It is well established that reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the culprit behind many cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure and restenosis. NAD (P)H oxidase is said to be the major source of ROS<sup>16<\/sup>. Because of oxidative stress, &nbsp;there &nbsp;will &nbsp;be &nbsp;excess &nbsp;generation &nbsp;of &nbsp;ROS &nbsp;and &nbsp;free &nbsp;radicals &nbsp;such &nbsp;as &nbsp;O2\u0304, &nbsp;OH \u0304 &nbsp;and &nbsp;other radicals which results in increased MDA levels which is a by-product of lipid peroxidation.<sup>17<\/sup> The biochemical parameters of present study showed that administration of 150mg\/kg of cyclophosphamide resulted in increased MDA levels and deceased GSH, SOD and Catalase levels as compared to all the other groups whereas co-administration of wheatgrass juice along with cyclophosphamide reversed the effect of cyclophosphamide by decreasing the MDA levels and increasing GHS, Catalase and SOD levels in rats.<\/p>\n<p>Histopathological findings from current study are clear that cyclophosphamide causes damage to the testicular tissue and the test dose of wheatgrass juice has protective effect against it by reversing the effect of cyclophosphamide. Protective effect of wheatgrass juice on testicular tissue is also suggested in the studies done by Eissa and Skoracka.<sup>18,19<\/sup><\/p>\n<p>In present study, 2 doses (100mg\/kg and 400mg\/kg) of wheatgrass juice were used to evaluate the antioxidant property in which both the doses were effective in preventing male infertility. Even a low dose of wheatgrass juice (100mg\/kg) with cyclophosphamide was effective in reversing the fertility changes induced by cyclophosphamide by increasing the sperm counts and motility.<\/p>\n<p>On comparison between wheatgrass 100mg and wheatgrass 400mg doses, which were given along with cyclophosphamide, wheatgrass 400mg was showed better effects than wheatgrass 100mg but there was no statistical significance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The present study suggests that wheatgrass juice has a very good antioxidant effect, co- administration of wheatgrass juice with cyclophosphamide preserved the male fertility by overcoming the adverse effects of cyclophosphamide.<\/p>\n<p>Conflict of Interest<\/p>\n<p>There is conflict of interest.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Funding Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are no funding sources.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span lang=\"EN-US\">References<\/span><\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>SC Shivhare , Arjun O Patidar , KG Malviya , K Venkatesh , Kuldeep Rathod . 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J Clin Med. 2020 May 9;9(5):1400.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jcm9051400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CrossRef<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction&nbsp; Infertility is a major issue faced by couples worldwide.  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