Protective Effect of Guaraná (Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis) Pre-treatment on Cadmium-Induced Damages in Adult Wistar Testis

Abstract

Guaraná (Paullinia cupana) is an Amazonian plant. Its antioxidant potential was demonstrated to be due to the high polyphenol concentration. On the other hand, one of the mechanisms underlying cadmium-induced cellular damage is free radical mediated, resulting in increased oxidative processes. This study investigated P. cupana's potential to attenuate cadmium-induced damages in Wistar rat testis. Adult male Wistar rats were either pre-treated with 2 mg/g body weight (BW) of powdered P. cupana seed during 56 days and/or injected with cadmium chloride at a dose of 1.15 mg/kg BW. After cadmium exposition (48 h), testes samples were evaluated by histological and stereological analyses. Both groups exposed to cadmium presented evident morphological alterations relative to control animals. A few rodents showed massive cell death in the seminiferous epithelium and intertubular space, indicating that some animals are more sensitive to cadmium. Despite the alterations observed in both groups, pre-treatment with P. cupana was effective in attenuating morphological changes in Leydig cells, as well as reducing inflammatory response, relative to animals exclusively exposed to the metal. Animals treated only with P. cupana presented a significant increase in plasma testosterone levels and a significant increase in volumetric proportions of seminiferous tubules, which are indicative of spermatogenic stimulation.

Advantage of Guaraná (Paullinia cupana Mart.) Supplementation on Cadmium-induced Damages in Testis of Adult Wistar Rats

“…Predes, Diamante, and Dolder (2010) and Yang et al (2006) showed that a single cadmium ip injection of 1.0 mg/kg BW (body weight) did not result in any marked morphological change in rodent testis 56 days following the exposure to the metal. On the other hand, ip doses ranging between 1.15 and 1.2 mg/kg BW are reported to cause drastic alterations in the testis, including seminiferous epithelium depletion, vasoconstriction, and Leydig cell numerical reduction (Leite et al 2011;Predes, Diamante, and Dolder 2010) Based upon the data presented, the current study investigates whether P. cupana supplementation, after cadmium exposure, has the potential to reduce the testicular impairments normally observed in Wistar rats exposed to this metal. This is our second study describing such an association (Leite et al 2011) and the first of its kind in the literature.…”

“…On the other hand, ip doses ranging between 1.15 and 1.2 mg/kg BW are reported to cause drastic alterations in the testis, including seminiferous epithelium depletion, vasoconstriction, and Leydig cell numerical reduction (Leite et al 2011;Predes, Diamante, and Dolder 2010) Based upon the data presented, the current study investigates whether P. cupana supplementation, after cadmium exposure, has the potential to reduce the testicular impairments normally observed in Wistar rats exposed to this metal. This is our second study describing such an association (Leite et al 2011) and the first of its kind in the literature. Therefore, it may contribute to further studies aiming to elucidate the possible therapeutic applications of P. cupana extract.…”

Guarana (Paullinia cupana Mart.) attenuates methylmercury-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans

“…Sorbilis , also referred to as guarana, is a native plant to the Amazon basin, especially in Brazil, with several reported effects including CNS stimulation (11), memory maintenance (11) and antioxidant activity (12). Previous studies also showed a protective effect against cadmium in adult rat testis (13, 14), and against rotenone in human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells (15). Guarana seed extracts contain several methylxanthines, such as caffeine, theobromine and theophylline, and tannins, saponins, catechins, epicatechins, proanthocyanidols as well as other compounds in trace concentrations (16).…”

Protective effect ofBasella albaandCarpolobia albaextracts against maneb-induced male infertility

“…Similarly, administration of Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis (Sapindaceae) extract to rats alleviated cadmium-induced testicular inflammation, with no androgenic effect in Cd-exposed animals (Leite et al, 2010). Although 52% recovery of the serum testosterone levels in the animals co-treated with maneb and AECa during the current study may not entirely rule out the implication of AECa androgenic effect in protecting animal fertility from maneb, this observation suggests the action of the plant extract through other factors implicated in male reproductive function regulation, such as modulation of paracrine growth factors, and stimulation of the testicular antioxidant defense system Hamden et al, 2008).…”