Curcumin and Quercetin Ameliorated Cypermethrin and Deltamethrin-Induced Reproductive System Impairment in Male Wistar Rats by Upregulating The Activity of Pituitary-Gonadal Hormones and Steroidogenic Enzymes

Objective Indiscriminate use of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides, Cypermethrin (Cyp) and Deltamethrin (Del) have been reported to cause system toxicity in mammals including humans. The dietary antioxidants protects tissues and organs against insecticides/xenobiotic induced damage. In present study, we evaluated the effect of exposure of Cyp and Del and possible protective roles of curcumin and quercetin on reproductive system of male Wistar rats. MaterialsAndMethods In this controlled experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 7 groups of 6 animals each. Group A served as control, group B was exposed to Cyp (2mg /kgbw), group C Del (2mg/ kgbw), group D Cyp+Del (2mg/ kgbw each), group E Cyp+Del, treated with curcumin (100mg/ kgbw), group F Cyp+Del, treated with quercetin (100mg/kgbw) and group G Cyp+Del, treated with quercetin+curcumin (100mg/ kgbw each) for 45 days. Results Exposure to Cyp and Del caused decrease in reproductive organ weight, sperm count, sperm motility, level of sex hormones viz. Testosterone (T), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH), steroidogenic enzymes viz. 3-β Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (3-βHSD) and 17-β Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (17-β HSD) non-enzymatic antioxidant Glutathione (GSH) and enzymatic antioxidants viz. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and Glutathione Reductase (GR) activity and increase in sperm abnormalities and Lipid Peroxidation (LPO). The exposure also adversely affected the histo-achitecture of testes. Single and combined treatment with curcumin and quercetin significantly ameliorated Cyp and Del induced damage in reproductive system and preserved the normal histo-architecture of the testes. Conclusion Curcumin and quercetin protected against Cyp and Del induced reproductive system toxicity and oxidative damage in rats. The increase in activities of steroidogenic enzymes (3-βHSD and 17-β HSD) and concomitant increase in testosterone was mainly responsible for ameliorating effect of curcumin and quercetin. Curcumin showed slightly better activity as compared to quercetin. The combination of both antioxidants offered more protection compared to treatment by either.