Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of genkwanin against aflatoxin B-induced testicular toxicity.

Aflatoxin B (AFB) is the most hazardous aflatoxin that causes significant damage to the male reproductive system. Genkwanin (GNK) is a bioactive flavonoid that shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Therefore, the current study was planned to evaluate the effects of GNK against AFB-induced testicular toxicity. Forty-eight male rats were distributed into four groups (n = 12 rats). AFB (50 μg/kg) and GNK (20 mg/kg) were administered to the rats for eight weeks. Results of the current study revealed that AFB exposure induced adverse effects on the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway and reduced the expressions and activities of antioxidant enzymes. Additionally, it increased the levels of oxidative stress markers. Furthermore, expressions of steroidogenic enzymes were down-regulated by AFB intoxication. Besides, AFB exposure reduced the levels of gonadotropins and plasma testosterone, which subsequently reduced the epididymal sperm count, motility, and hypo-osmotic swelled (HOS) sperms, while increasing the number of dead sperms and causing morphological anomalies of the head, midpiece, and tail of the sperms. In addition, AFB decreased the activities of testicular function marker enzymes and the levels of inflammatory markers. Moreover, it severely affected the apoptotic profile by up-regulating the expressions of Bax and Casp3, while down-regulating the Bcl2 expression. Besides, AFB significantly damaged the histoarchitecture of testicular tissues. However, GNK treatment reversed all the AFB-induced damages in the rats. Taken together, the current study reports the potential use of GNK as a therapeutic agent to prevent AFB-induced testicular toxicity due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties.