"Protective effects of artichoke extract and Bifidobacterium longum on male infertility in diabetic rats".

2024-12
Biochemistry and biophysics reports 40

PubMed: 39386078
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101834

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population: 96 male-rats
Methods: randomly selected from eight groups: Control, Sham (normal saline), DM group (IP injected with 60 mg/kg STZ), Cynara (400 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of Cynara scolymus L), BBL (1 × 10^9 CFU/ml/day Bifidobacterium longum), DM + Cynara, DM + BBL, and DM + Cynara + BBL groups; after 48 days of orally gavage, serum levels, gene expressions, and stereological changes were measured

Background

Diabetes is a major global health concern and plays a significant role in male infertility and hormonal abnormalities by altering the tissue structure of spermatogenic tubes and decreasing the number of spermatogonia. This study investigated the effect of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L) hydroalcoholic extract and Bifidobacterium longum probiotic on sexual hormones, oxidative stress, apoptosis pathway, and histopathological changes in testicular tissues of diabetic rats to find an adjuvant therapy to manage the infertility complications of diabetes.

Methods

In this experiment, 96 male-rats were randomly selected from eight groups. Control, Sham (normal saline), DM group (IP injected with 60 mg/kg STZ), Cynara (400 mg/kg hydroalcoholic extract of Cynara scolymus L), BBL (received 1 × 10⁹ CFU/ml/day Bifidobacterium longum), DM + Cynara, DM + BBL, and DM + Cynara + BBL groups. After 48 days of orally gavage, serum level of FBS (fasting blood sugar), Malondi-aldehyde (MDA), Total-Anti-Oxidant Capacity (TAC), FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone), LH (Luteinizing hormone), Testosterone, Testis mRNA-expressions of Protamin (prm1), BCL2, and Caspase-9 genes, as well as stereological changes were measured.

Results

In comparison to the diabetic group, the hydroalcoholic extract of Cynara scolymus L combined with the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum resulted in a substantial decrease in FBS (p < 0.001) and MDA(p < 0.05) concentrations, and the expression of the Caspase-9 gene (1.33-fold change). In addition, serum levels of TAC, LH, FSH, Testosterone were significantly increased (p < 0.05). mRNA expression of protamine (p = 0.016) and BCL2 (0.72-fold change) were detected. Furthermore, in comparison with diabetic rats, the Cynara scolymus L-and Bifidobacterium longum-treated groups showed a significant increase in the number of sexual lineage cells, total weight, sperm count, motility, normal morphology, volume of the testis, and volume and length of seminiferous tubules (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The findings demonstrated that Cynara scolymus L extract and Bifidobacterium longum supplement had great therapeutic potential, including antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-diabetic, fertility index improvement, and sex hormone modulators.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bifidobacterium longum UABI-14	—	Improved Fertility	Beneficial	Moderate	View source In comparison to the diabetic group, the hydroalcoholic extract of Cynara scolymus L combined with the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum resulted in a substantial decrease in FBS ... Serum levels of TAC, LH, FSH, Testosterone were significantly increased ... [and] showed a significant increase in the number of sexual lineage cells, total weight, sperm count, motility, normal morphology, volume of the testis, and volume and length of seminiferous tubules.