Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that disrupts spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis due to its long half-life. This study evaluated the impact of recovery alone or with zinc (Zn) supplementation on Cd-induced testicular toxicity. A total of 42 pubertal male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups of six rats each. The control group (1) received NaCl (0.9%). Groups 2, 3, and 4 were treated with Cd 10 μg/kg/d by intraperitoneal injection for 1, 2, and 3 months respectively. Group 5 received Cd for 3 months with a recovery period of 1 month; Group 6 was exposed to Cd for 3 months, followed by a 1-month recovery period combined with Zn supplementation. (0.5 mg/kg/d). The last group was treated with zinc at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for one month. The results showed decreased body weight, testicular and epididymal weight, testicular dimensions, and sperm parameters, along with Cd accumulation in the testes. Cd caused testicular damage and reduced serum testosterone levels, with more pronounced effects in the 3-month treatment group. Recovery alone did not significantly reverse Cd’s toxic effects, whereas Zn supplementation mitigated most of the damage. Recovery combined with Zn supplementation was more effective in correcting Cd-induced testicular toxicity than recovery alone.

Smoking is a major lifestyle factor associated with impaired male reproductive health, affecting both active smokers and individuals exposed to secondhand smoke. It also represents a significant source of cadmium (Cd) exposure, a toxic metal associated with altered sperm quality. This study aimed to evaluate the association between active and passive smoking and semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation, and chromatin decondensation, as well as cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) levels in seminal plasma. A total of 280 men from infertile couples were included and categorized into three groups: 104 non-smokers (control), 90 active smokers, and 86 passive smokers. Semen samples were analyzed according to the WHO 2021 guidelines. Cadmium and zinc concentrations in seminal plasma were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), and sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin decondensation were evaluated. The findings indicated that both active and passive smoking were associated with impaired semen parameters, increased sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin decondensation, decreased zinc levels, and elevated cadmium concentrations in seminal plasma.

Sargassum muticum is an invasive brown macroalga that has rapidly expanded along the Moroccan Atlantic coast, posing ecological challenges while representing an abundant marine biomass with potential biotechnological value. This study investigated the biochemical composition and metabolic properties of Moroccan S. muticum through compositional analysis, in vivo metabolic evaluation, and molecular docking. Proximate analysis revealed a carbohydrate-rich composition with moderate protein content, together with photosynthetic pigments and nutritionally relevant minerals. In a cafeteria diet-induced rat model, dietary supplementation with S. muticum significantly attenuated body weight gain, improved adiposity-related indices, reduced serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and C-reactive protein levels, and increased HDL cholesterol. To obtain mechanistic insight, molecular docking analysis was performed using representative phlorotannins reported from Sargassum species. Among the compounds evaluated, dieckol showed the highest docking scores toward key metabolic targets, including AMP-activated protein kinase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. Although these in silico findings do not demonstrate biological activation, they provide preliminary mechanistic support for the observed in vivo effects. Overall, the results highlight the potential of S. muticum for sustainable valorization as a functional marine bioresource.

Tumor angiogenesis plays a critical role in cancer growth and metastatic progression and therefore represents an important therapeutic target. Bee venom-derived peptides constitute a diverse source of bioactive molecules whose interactions with angiogenesis-associated receptors remain incompletely characterized. In this study, an integrated in silico workflow was applied to investigate the potential interactions of selected bee venom peptides, including melittin and tertiapin, with major angiogenic-associated receptors, including platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFR-α), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, fibroblast growth factor receptors, and integrin αvβ3. Molecular docking was used to identify and prioritize potential peptide–receptor complexes, while molecular dynamics simulations were performed to assess their conformational stability and interaction patterns under the simulated conditions. Reactome pathway enrichment analysis was subsequently used to contextualize the selected molecular targets within angiogenesis-related biological processes. Melittin–PDGFR-α and tertiapin–integrin αvβ3 emerged as the highest-ranked complexes and exhibited relatively stable interaction patterns with persistent intermolecular contacts throughout the simulations. Pathway enrichment analysis further associated the investigated targets with PDGFR signaling, cell migration, and other angiogenesis-related processes. Collectively, these findings suggest that melittin–PDGFR-α and tertiapin–integrin αvβ3 represent promising peptide–receptor pairs for further investigation while providing a computational rational for exploring bee venom peptides as potential modulators of tumor angiogenesis. However, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating and primarily serve to prioritize peptide-receptor pairs for future experimental validation, including binding assays, cellular assays, and relevant in vivo studies. Peptide selectivity, toxicity, stability, and targeted delivery should also be evaluated before any therapeutic application can be considered.