Protective effects of total flavonoids from Epimedium on the male mouse reproductive system against cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative injury by up-regulating the expressions of SOD3 and GPX1.

Total flavonoids of Epimedium (TFE) is the main active composition of Epimedium that has been used to treat male reproductive problems. The present aim was to investigate the protective effects of TFE on male mice reproductive system against cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced oxidative injury. The animals were treated with CP to make testicular injury model and the protective effects of TFE were observed. In the CP-treated group, testicular and epididymal weights, sperm count and motility significantly decreased relative to the control group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Compared with the CP-treated group, TFE (200 and 400 mg/kg) treated mice increased testicular weights by 21.6% and 28.4% (P < 0.05), sperm counts by 81.7% and 148.3% (P < 0.01) and sperm motility by 47.2% and 61.3% (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the CP-treated group showed enhancement of lipid peroxidation leading to testicular reproductive toxicity. TFE restored these oxidative damages by up-regulating the expression of antioxidant enzymes, especially SOD3 and GPX1. TUNEL assay and histopathological observations provided supportive evidence for above results, and when the dose of TFE increased, the aforesaid improvement became more and more strong. These results demonstrated that TFE exerted beneficially protective effects on the structural and functional damage of male mice reproductive system and reduced apoptosis in spermatogenic cells by inhibiting CP-induced oxidative stress.

[Effects of total saponin from Panax japonicus on acute myocardial ischemia injury induced by ligating coronary artery left anterior descending branch in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cardioprotective effects of total saponin from Panax japonicus pretreating on acute myocardial ischemia injury induced by ligating coronary artery left anterior descending branch (LAD) in rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into sham group, model group and total saponin group. The treatment group was given total saponin of Panax japonicus. After pretreating for 7 days, the rats' acute myocardial ischemia model was induced by LAD. The electrocardiogram, hemodynamics, infarct size and histomorphology were assessed 12 h after LAD, the serum levels of phosphokinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, total saponin from Panax japonicus significantly improved heart function, heart histomorphology, opposed ECG T wave decreased and decreased infarct size; Remarkably decreased the contents of LDH, CK and MDA, increased the activity of SOD, CAT. CONCLUSION: Total saponin from Panax japonicus has cardioprotective effects on acute myocardial ischemic injury and the mechanism may be related to antioxidation.