Background:: Infertility is the first-rate public health trouble 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 histological examination of testicular tissue among all groups. Conclusion:: High dose Ech improved male rat-fertility either directly by activating the pituitary gonadal axis, and or indirectly via enhancing: the renal and hepatic functions, the lipid profile and or the antioxidant pathways.

Background: In developing countries, there is no doubt that acute kidney injury and chronic liver diseases have a major impact on health. Different venom components are gaining renewed interest as potential sources of new pharmacological compounds relevant for human therapeutics. Aim: The present study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of the crude venom extract of the Egyptian spitting cobra (Naja nubiae) venom extract against gentamycin–induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in rats. Methods: Eighteen male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, control, gentamycin, and venom extract. The hepatorenal toxicity model was induced by gentamycin (80 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) for 8 days. Results: LD50 of venom extract in rats was 0.2mg/kg. The venom extract group showed a significant decrease in the liver enzymes, urea, uric acid, creatinine, malondialdehyde meanwhile glutathione reduced and catalase levels increased. Histological examination of liver and kidney mild protective efficacy with less extensive degenerative changes in the tissues of venom extract grou Conclusion: The results of the present investigation showed that administration of venom extract proved therapeutic efficacy against gentamycin -induced hepatorenal dysfunction by maintain the normal functional status of the liver and kidney and normalized the antioxidant system.

No abstract