The study was conducted to evaluate the vanadium-induced testicular toxicity and its effect on sperm parameters, sperm nuclear DNA damage and histological alterations in Sprague Dawley rats and to assess the protective effect of G-hesperidin against this damage. Treatment of rats with vanadium at a dose of 1 mg kg bw(-1) for 90 days resulted in significant reduction in serum testosterone levels, sperm count and motility. Further, a parallel increase in abnormal sperm morphology and adverse histopathological changes in testis was also associated with vanadium administration when compared to normal control. Moreover, sperm chromatin dispersion assay revealed that vanadium induces sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation. A marked increase in testicular malondialdehyde levels and decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase indicates vanadium-induced oxidative stress. Co-administration of G-hesperidin at a dose of 25 and 50 mg kg bw(-1) significantly attenuated the sperm parameters and histological changes by restoring the antioxidant levels in rat testis. These results suggested that vanadium exposure caused reduced bioavailability of androgens to the tissue and increased free radical formation, thereby causing structural and functional changes in spermatozoa. G-hesperidin exhibited antioxidant effect by protecting the rat testis against vanadium-induced oxidative damage, further ensures antioxidant potential of bioflavonoids.

Background Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees has been well-researched for its immunomodulatory effects. Objective(s) To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of standardized A. paniculata extract (SAPE) in healthy adults. Materials and methods The study was an open-label, single-centre study conducted for 30 days. Thirty participants with absolute lymphocyte counts of 1000–4000 cells/mm 3 were enrolled and were instructed to ingest 200 mg of SAPE daily for 30 days. The participants visited the clinic at baseline, and days 3, 7, and 30. Immune cells such as NK cell (CD3-CD16+CD56+), T cells (CD3+), T helper cells (CD3+CD4+), T cytotoxic cells (CD3+CD8+) were measured using flow cytometry. Serum cytokines that include interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured using ELISA. The SAPE used in this study was a standardized proprietary extract (AP-Bio®/KalmCold®) developed from the leaf extracts of A. paniculata . Results SAPE increased T cells, T helper cells and significantly increased IFN-γ, IL-4, and decreased IL-2 at day 30. A subgroup analysis of participants with absolute lymphocyte counts of 1000–3000 cells/mm 3 indicated that there is a significant increase in the T cells, T helper cells at day 7 and 30 and significant increase in IFN-γ, IL-4 and decrease in IL-2 at day 30. There was no treatment related adverse effects following SAPE intake for 30 days. Conclusion Supplementation of SAPE resulted in immunomodulatory effects evidenced by its effects on immune cells and cytokines and it was found to be safe and tolerable.

No abstract

No abstract