Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) fruit extract ameliorates methotrexate‐induced reproductive toxicity in male rats

Abstract

Objective: Methotrexate (MTX) is a drug commonly used for the treatment of malign neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. Antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory effects of bitter melon (BM) were reported. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of BM
fruit extract on MTX-induced testicular and epididymal damage.
Materials and Methods: Sprague Dawley male rats were divided into three groups (n=8) as control, MTX and MTX+BM. A single dose
of MTX (20 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to the MTX and MTX+BM groups. BM fruit extract (600 mg/kg) was applied to the
MTX+BM group orally for 5 days. Testes were examined for general histopathology, proliferating and apoptotic cells. The epididymis
samples were used for the evaluation of sperm morphology. Oxidative and inflammatory markers were analysed biochemically.
Results: Increased abnormal spermatozoa, degenerated seminiferous tubules with increased apoptotic cells and decreased proliferative
cells were observed in the MTX group. TNF-α, IL-1β, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and caspase-3 levels increased, superoxide
dismutase and catalase levels decreased in both testis and epididymis samples. All these histological and biochemical parameters
were ameliorated in the MTX+BM group.
Conclusion: Methotrexate causes testis damage by decreasing spermatogenic cells and increasing apoptosis through oxidative stress
and inflammation. BM extract improves testis and epididymis damage with its possible anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Keywords

• Methotrexate
• Bitter melon
• Testis
• Epididymis
• Oxidative stres

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