Effects of Ocimum tenuiflorum on Induced Testicular Degeneration by Filgrastim in Wistar Rats

Since the creation of man on earth, herbal remedies have been used as an invaluable, safe, and available natural source of medicine for the treatment of several dysfunctions in living animals and human beings. The pharmacological properties of these herbs are commonly known to include analgesic, antidiabetic, antispasmodic, hepatoprotective, reproductive, and cardioprotective potentials. Various nutritional, environmental, and physiological factors can affect the male reproductive system. Several herbal remedies are reported to target the testis at the spermatogenesis and hormonal level. Most of the chemotherapy drugs used for treating cancers cause adverse effects on male reproductive functions. Filgrastim is used for the treatment of cancer in patients suffering from neutropenia. Ocimum tenuiflorum is one of the herbal remedies used as a natural antioxidant substance for protecting the body organs against the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the possible productive effects of the O. tenuiflorum against adverse effects of filgrastim on testicular tissues in male Wistar rats. In total, 40 adult male rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups (n=10). Group 1 was treated with intraperitoneal administration of filgrastim at a dose of 30.83 μg/kg/day for 1 week. Group 2 received O. tenuiflorum suspended in corn oil and administered by gavages at 20 mg/kg/day for 1 week. Group 3 was intraperitoneally injected with filgrastim at a dose of 30.83 μg/kg/day for 1 week and treated with O. tenuiflorum at similar manure to group 2. Finally, group 4 was treated with placebo (0.9% saline solution). The results showed that filgrastim administration leads to the degeneration of spermatozoa and germ cells in the testicles of rats. The results of the current study showed that O. tenuiflorum has some ameliorating effects on the testicles and fertility of the rats which were treated with filgrastim. Finally, the recorded data showed that O. tenuiflorum has protective effects on testis tissues and reproductive functions in male rats.