Effects of Echinacea purpurea Extract on Sperm Characteristics and Hematology Following Testicular Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rat

Introduction One of the most important disorders in the male reproduction system is testicular I/R injury (1). Torsion of the spermatic cord is a common urological emergency among the infants and adolescents. It needs early diagnosis and surgical intervention to prevent subfertility and infertility (2). The surgical correction of testicular torsion includes detorsion of the spermatic cord and reestablishing bloodstream to the testicles. Reperfusion of ischemic tissues results in the formation of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), including superoxide anions, hydroxyl radicals, hypochlorous acid, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide– derived peroxynitrite (3). ROS cause subsequent cellular damage via lipid peroxidation in mitochondrial and cell membranes (3,4). Moreover, the repeated succession of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in testicular cells cause many biochemical and morphological changes which might lead to lipid peroxidation, protein denaturation, DNA damage and apoptosis (5). Based on previous reports, there is a growing interest in using antioxidants because they help to protect the cells against damages induced by ROS generated in oxidative stressrelated diseases. There is some evidence that natural products and their derivatives have efficient antioxidative properties, consequently linked to anti-inflammatory activities (6). Echinacea purpurea is a medical herb which is used for treating acute upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, viral infections, cutaneous affections and chronic disease due to a deficiency in immunological responses (7). E. purpurea has a high content of polysaccharides, acrylamides, non-saturated acids, glycoproteins and flavonoids (8). The main bioactive constituents of E. purpurea extracts (EPE) are cichoric acid, echinacoside, chlorogenic acid, sitosterol, cynarine and caftaric acid. All of them are powerful antioxidant, free radical scavenging which decrease nitric oxide (NO) free radical generation (9). Scarce information exists on the role of E. purpurea in sexual activity of male rats (8). In a study, Skaudickas et al reported that administration of E. purpurea (50 mg/kg) for 8 weeks decreased the percentage of the testicle in male rats (8). Sitosterol decreases the enlargement of the prostate and affects sexual glands in male rats (8). Although the medical properties of E. purpurea and its effects on the male genital system were detected, there is no exact report on the dosage of E. purpurea. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of the EPE on sperm characteristics Abstract Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Echinacea purpurea extract on sperm characteristics following testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Materials and Methods: To evaluate this hypothesis, 30 adult rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham operations, I/R group and 3 groups of treatment with E. purpurea extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg). To achieve testicular I/R, torsion (720°) of spermatic cord for 2 hours and reperfusion of the tests for 24 hours were performed. Treatment was done by intraperitoneal injection of 3 different doses of E. purpurea extract, 1 hour after ischemia. Then, the sperm count, motility and mobility were determined. Results: There was a significant increase in sperm count, motility and mobility in treatment groups compared to I/R group (P<0.05). Treatment with E. purpurea extract (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the adverse effect of testicular I/R on sperm mortality compared to the control group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in hemograms. Conclusions: These results confirmed beneficial effects of E. purpurea extract on sperm characteristics after testicular I/R injury in rats.