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The Natural Products Journal

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ISSN (Print): 2210-3155
ISSN (Online): 2210-3163

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Research Article

Echinochrome Pigment Improves Male Rats' Fertility

Author(s): Neveen Asmet Farag, Ayman S Mohamed*, Hanan Farag El Sayed, Eman Y. Salah EL Din and Abdel Rahman A. Tawfik

Volume 12, Issue 3, 2022

Published on: 22 December, 2021

Article ID: e160921188044 Pages: 7

DOI: 10.2174/2210315510999201116205519

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Infertility is the first-rate public health problem affecting one in five married couples globally; male causes embody a significant proportion. Natural products could be an alternative or complementary inexpensive treatment for such matters. Echinochrome (Ech) is a natural quinone pigment obtained from sea urchin, and it was confirmed to possess many pharmacological properties due to its chemical activity.

Objective: The current research paper was targeted to evaluate the potential effects of Ech on male fertility, and to highlight the possible involved mechanisms.

Methods: Eighteen adult male rats were randomly distributed into three groups: control (1 ml of 2% DMSO, p.o.), low dose Ech (0.1 mg/kg, p.o.), and high dose Ech (1 mg/kg p.o.).

Results: The high dose Ech caused a significant decline in the levels of glucose, ALT, AST, ALP, urea, Cr, uric acid, TG, TC and LDL-C and testicular tissue MDA, while it caused a significant rise in the levels of albumin, TP, HDL-C, FSH, LH, testosterone and testicular tissue GSH activity. Moreover, it showed a significant positive effect on the testis weight, caudal epididymis weight, sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, fructose concentration, and α-glucosidase activity. However, no significant changes were observed in the histological examination of testicular tissue among all groups.

Conclusion: High dose Ech improved male rat-fertility either directly by activating the pituitarygonadal axis, and or indirectly via enhancing the renal and hepatic functions, the lipid profile and or the antioxidant pathways.

Keywords: Echinochrome, sea urchin, infertility, testis, oxidative stress, male fertility.

Graphical Abstract

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