Effects of Echinacea Purpurae Extract on Testicular Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) Injury in Rat

BACKGROUND: Ischemia/reperfusion of tetsis is a male infertility condition which occurs because of oxidation demage. Echinacea purpurea extract (EPE) has antioxidant and protective effect. OBJECTIVES: So, the main purpose of this research was to determine effects of EP extract on testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat. METHODS: 50 adult Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups: group one as control, group two, 2 hour I/24 hours R period, group three, 1 hour I which after 1 hour of ischemia, rat was injected 25 mg/kg EPE and ischemia continued for an hour, then was followed by 24 hours R period. Groups 4 and 5 were similar to experiment 3, except rats were injected with 50 and 100 mg/kg of EPE, respectively. Then 24 hours later, the left testis was removed for histological and antioxidant enzyme activity including malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant status (TAS). RESUTLS: Based on the findings, MDA concentration was significantly elevated in I/R rat (P<0.05) while EPE diminished MDA concentration in I/R rat (P<0.05). SOD and GPx activity decreased in I/R rat (P<0.05). Injection of the of the EPE (25, 50 and 100mg/kg) increased SOD and GPx concentrations (P<0.05). There was significant fluctuation on TAS in EPE treated groups in comparision to the control group (P>0.05). Seminiferous tubules degenerated and few spermatocytes were observed in testis tubules of the I/R rat. EPE (50 and 100mg/kg) improved testis characteristics in experimental I/R-induced rat in which normal spermatocyte in seminiferous tubules was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested EPE has protective effect against against testicular I/R.