Studies on the phytomodulatory potential of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) on bisphenol-A induced testicular damage in mice.

Bisphenol A (BPA), an organic synthetic compound and endocrine disruptor, which majorly cause deleterious effects on male reproductory system. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), associated with Leguminosae family is used as a herbal medicine with potent antioxidant properties. The present study was aimed to scrutinise the preventative role of fenugreek seeds aqueous extract (FSEt) on BPA-induced testicular damage in mice. Study included four different groups of male Balb/c mice: contol (C), fenugreek (FSEt), bisphenol A (BPA) and fenugreek + bisphenol A (FSEt + BPA). After two months of treatment, assessment of sperm parameters, antioxidant defence system, histopathological studies, germ cell count and gene expression of intrinsic apoptotic pathway were carried out. Administration of FSEt improved the damage caused by BPA as indicated by improved sperm parameters. FSEt-administered mice showed improvement in the histoarchitecture compared with BPA-administered animals. In addition, fenugreek treatment showed reduced levels of malondialdehyde and elevated levels of antioxidant enzymes. Expression studies of apoptotic markers revealed a significant decrease in the expression of Bcl-2 and significant increase in caspase-9 and caspase-3. However, FSEt restored the deleterious effects caused by BPA. The current findings plausibly might have promising protective role against BPA-induced testicular damage.