This study was designed to investigate testicular and male reproductive tract histopathologies and lipid profile against di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) exposure in mice and curative potentials of aqueous garlic (Allium sativum) extract. Four groups (n = 10) were named and treated as follow (a) control (C): (normal feed and drinking water + 0.2 ml corn oil); (b) aqueous garlic extract group (AGE): (500 mg/kg body weight of aqueous garlic extract); (c) DEHP group: (500 mg/kg body weight of DEHP, dissolved in corn oil; (d) AGE + DEHP group (500 mg/kg body weight garlic aqueous extract, and DEHP 500 mg/kg body weight dissolved in corn oil). The doses weregiven once daily through gavages for 28 days and on the 29th day, all the animals were euthanized through cervical dislocation and reproductive organs and blood samples were collected. The results showed that exposure to DEHP caused a significant effect on body weight, testicular weight, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid profile, average cross-sectional area (ACSA) of the seminiferous tubule, ACSA of the lumen of seminiferous tubule, spermatogenic cells, Leydig's cells number, vas deferens diameter, lumen, muscular thickness, and epithelial cell height of vas deferens. This study revealed that exposure to DEHP can be injurious to male reproductive health and aqueous garlic extract can decrease the toxic effects of DEHP in male mice.

The present study was intended to find out the curative potentials of Garlic (Allium sativum) against di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) induced toxicity in the reproductive system of female mice. Forty female mice were divided into four groups (n=10) as the (a) control group was given normal feed and drinking water, (b) aqueous garlic extract treated group (500 mg/kg), (c) DEHP group received 500 mg/kg in corn oil, and (d) DEHP + aqueous garlic extract each at a dosage of 500 mg/kg body weight. All treatments were given daily through oral gavage for 28 days. After completion of the experiment, all the animals were dissected through cervical dislocation to get reproductive organs. Collected organs were weighed and processed through the conventional histology technique of staining with eosin and hematoxylin. This study indicated that DEHP exposure caused a significant decrease (P<0.001) in body weight and weight of the complete female reproductive tract as compared to the control group, while the garlic co-administered group showed prominent improvement in body and organ weight when compared to only DEHP treatment. The adverse effect of DEHP on the histology of the ovary such as a decreased mean number of developing follicles, thin and irregular corona radiata, disruption of cumulus oophorus, and reduction in the size of the antral cavity of the tertiary follicle was observed. However, a significant recovery in the development of follicles was seen in DEHP plus garlic-treated group. DEHP plus garlic extract treatment showed protective effects on the uterus, such as a significant increase in the diameter of the uterus (P<0.001), muscularis, mean number of endometrial glands (P<0.001), and endometrial epithelial heights as compared to only DEHP exposed group. Hence, garlic extract showed significant ameliorative potential against DEHP-induced reproductive anomalies in female mice.

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