Reproduction, which is one of the main priorities of the World Health Organization, is the basis of human survival. There are many factors which can reduce or completely eliminate the reproductive potential and cause infertility occurs in 12%-15% of couples worldwide (Dimitriadis et al., 2017). Infertility rates in Iran have increased compared with the past, 20.2% of Iranian couples are infertile and 40% of cases are related to males' problems. It is estimated that 40%-90% of male infertility is due to abnormal sperm production. Many factors affect sperm function, the most important is the presence of free radicals (O'Flynn O'Brien et al., 2010).Normally, there is a balance between the production of free radicals in the body and the antioxidant defence system. However, exposure to agents such as toxins and environmental pollutants, drugs such as chemotherapy agents like CP, increases the production of free radicals in the body and the imbalance between free radicals and the antioxidant defence system which is called oxidative stress, leads to tissue damage (Abd El Tawab et al., 2014;Arena et al., 2018). Oxidative stress results in lipid peroxidation in the sperm membrane that lead to a decrease in the sperm motility and quality (Sadaghiani et al., 2020).According to studies, despite the great importance of CP, several reproductive problems such as azoospermia, oligospermia, atrophy of seminiferous tubules and low serum testosterone levels have been observed (Akomolafe & Aluko, 2020). Although the exact mechanism of CP-induced reproductive and gonadal toxicity has not been elucidated, based on the results of several studies, the

BackgroundThe liver and kidney are organs affected by chemotherapy drugs such as cyclophosphamide (CP). This study examined the protective effects of treatment with saponin (SP) against CP-induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.Methods24 adult male mice were divided into four groups (N = 6): Control group, CP (15 mg kg−1), SP (2.5 mg kg−1) and CP + SP. After treatment, blood samples were collected for the determination of biochemical parameters. Liver and kidney samples were taken for histological analysis and assessment of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers.ResultsCyclophosphamide decreased renal and liver functions and antioxidant enzymes, which significantly increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine (BUN, Cr), liver enzyme levels, malondialdehyde, nuclear factor kappa β (NF-kB) and Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1B) concentrations. Moreover, histopathological findings of the CP group showed that there were acute tubular necrosis and glomerular atrophy in the renal tissues and lymphocyte infiltration in the liver samples. Treatment with saponin improved hepatic and renal functions, pathological changes and antioxidant capacity, and also decreased lipid peroxidation and inflammation.ConclusionIt seems that saponin could exert a hepato-nephroprotective effect against cyclophosphamide toxicity.