Prevention of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced toxicity in testes of rats treated with Physalis peruviana L. fruit

Treatment of rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄; 2 ml/kg body weight) once a week for 12 weeks caused a significant decrease in serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone. These decreases in sex hormones were reduced with Physalis peruviana L. (Cape gooseberry) juice supplementation. In addition, testicular activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase suppressed with CCl₄ were elevated after P. peruviana juice supplements. P. peruviana juice supplementation significantly increased the testicular glutathione and significantly decreased the level of lipid peroxidation and the nitric oxide production compared with the CCl₄ group. In addition, the decline in the activity of antioxidant enzymes after CCl₄ was ameliorated by P. peruviana. Moreover, degeneration of germ and Leydig cells along with deformities in spermatogenesis induced after CCl₄ injections were prevented with the supplementation of P. peruviana juice. Furthermore, P. peruviana juice attenuated CCl₄-induced apoptosis in testes tissue by inhibition of caspase-3 activity. The results clearly demonstrate that P. peruviana juice augments the antioxidants defense mechanism against CCl₄-induced reproductive toxicity and provides evidence that the juice may have a therapeutic role in free radical-mediated diseases and infertility.