Ameliorative effect of Yuganzi (Emblica officinalis) on chronic low-dose acrylamide-induced reproductive toxicity in male and female rats

Introduction

Acrylamide (AA) is a toxic substance found in almost all our daily food items produced during the cooking process that damages the structure and affects the reproductive system's function by inducing oxidative stress, thereby increasing the health risk in humans. Emblica officinalis (E. officinalis), Yuganzi is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and has proven to have antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and alleviate toxicological changes in the body. This research aims to examine the effect of E. officinalis on AA-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the reproductive systems of male and female rats.

Methods

A total of thirty Sprague Dawley rats were used in the study. Oral gavage was used to administer both AA and E. officinalis. A dose of 60 μg/kg/bw/day to cause AA toxicity and 200 mg/kg bw/day of E. officinalis extract was administered. Hormonal parameter analysis and histopathological analysis were done to observe the effectiveness of E. officinalis on AA toxicity.

Results

Follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), significantly decreased in acrylamide-treated females (group 2) whereas Progesterone and Testosterone showed a mild decrease in group 2 except estradiol which slightly increased. Group 3 that were treated with E. officinalis after the induction of AA toxicity for 8 weeks showed an increase in the hormonal parameters like the normal control group. The histopathological study showed severe degeneration of testicular cells and ovarian follicles in group 2 with interstitial oedema and haemorrhage. Group 3 showed the restoration of the AA-induced structural damage by the antioxidant properties of E. officinalis.

Discussion

This study lends credence to the bodily harm inflicted by AA on the male and female reproductive systems and the alleviative effect of E. officinalis. Given that E. officinalis did not demonstrate equivalent treatment efficacy on the testis and ovary, more research is necessary to determine whether the effectiveness is dose-dependent.