Arsenic-Induced Sex Hormone Disruption: An Insight into Male Infertility.

Arsenic (As) is one of the most potent natural as well as anthropogenic metalloid toxicants that have various implications in the everyday life of humans. It is found in several chemical forms such as inorganic salt, organic salt, and arsine (gaseous form). Although it is mostly released via natural causes, there are many ways through which humans come in contact with As. Drinking water contamination by As is one of the major health concerns in various parts of the world. Arsenic exposure has the ability to induce adverse health effects including reproductive problems. Globally, around 15% of the couples are affected with infertility, of which about 20-30% are attributed to the male factor. Arsenic affects the normal development and function of sperm cells, tissue organization of the gonads, and also the sex hormone parameters. Stress induction is one of the implications of As exposure. Excessive stress leads to the release of glucocorticoids, which impact the oxidative balance in the body leading to overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This may in turn result in oxidative stress (OS) ultimately interfering with normal sperm and hormonal parameters. This study deals with As-induced OS and its association with sex hormone disruption as well as its effect on sperm and semen quality.

Scavenging Properties of Plant-Derived Natural Biomolecule Para-Coumaric Acid in the Prevention of Oxidative Stress-Induced Diseases.

Para-coumaric acid (p-CA) is a plant derived secondary metabolite belonging to the phenolic compounds. It is widely distributed in the plant kingdom and found mainly in fruits, vegetables, and cereals. Various in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed its scavenging and antioxidative properties in the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions. This evidence-based review focuses on the protective role of p-CA including its therapeutic potential. p-CA and its conjugates possesses various bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-melanogenic properties. Due to its potent free radical scavenging activity, it can mitigate the ill effects of various diseases including arthritis, neurological disorders, and cardio-vascular diseases. Recent studies have revealed that p-CA can ameliorate the harmful effects associated with oxidative stress in the reproductive system, also by inhibiting enzymes linked with erectile function.