Chronic stress (CS) is known to induce testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis. Fruit of Momordica charantia (FMC) has antioxidant capacity to protect tissue damage, but its effect on sexual activity and testicular damage caused by CS has never been documented. This study aimed to investigate the impact of FMC extract against testicular damage and sexual dysfunction in chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) rats. Rats were divided into four groups and pretreated with vehicle or FMC (40 and 80 mg/kg) before CUS induction for 56 days. Sexual behaviors, serum hormones, and sperm quality were analyzed. Testes were collected to determine daily sperm production (DSP), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and expressions of cleaved apoptotic proteins. Testicular DNA fragmentation, as revealed by TUNEL and morphometric analysis, was observed. FMC improved sexual activity, increased testosterone levels, and sperm count with improvements in DSP, testicular morphometrics, and MDA levels. Moreover, TUNEL-positive cells and expression of caspase 3 in the testis were decreased in FMC rats. FMC has antioxidant potential and could protect against male sexual dysfunction and testicular damage caused by stress-related apoptosis. It is a potential extract to be developed as a supplement in preventing CS-male subfertility. However, future studies about the optimal dose and clinical trials are required.

Although Dolichandrone serrulata flower (DSF) aqueous extract has been shown to possess pharmacological properties, its systemic toxicity has still to be evaluated. The present study aimed to investigate the sub-chronic toxicity effect of DSF extract on biochemical parameters and histological structures of liver, kidney, testis, and epididymis plus vas deferens. Adult male rats were administered DSF at 100, 300, and 600 mg/kgBW via oral gavage for 48 consecutive days while control rats received distilled water. At the end of the experiment, blood, liver, kidney, testis, and epididymis plus vas deferens samples were collected to determine any changes to serum biochemical components including ALT, ALP, and creatinine levels and histological structures. The results revealed no significant difference in body weight and food or water consumption between control and the DSF-treated groups. It was found that DSF significantly increases the weight of epididymis plus vas deferens, while the kidney and liver showed a decrease in the high dose group (P value < 0.05). Histological changes in these vital and reproductive tissues including fibrosis were not observed after administration but ALT, ALP, and creatinine levels were significantly altered in the treated groups (P value < 0.05). These altered levels, however, were still within normal ranges. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that D. serrulata flower extract had no sub-chronic toxicity on vital and reproductive structures but slightly altered some liver and kidney functions.

Chronic stress (CS) contributes to male infertility, reduced testosterone levels, and impaired semen quality. CS models induced by glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone (DEX), negatively affect sperm parameters and testicular health, notably by promoting testicular apoptosis. While individual plant extracts have been studied for their ability to mitigate stress-induced reproductive dysfunction, the preventive effect of the Tri Garn Pis (TGP) polyherbal extract in DEX-induced CS (DexCS) has not previously been investigated. This study evaluated the effects of TGP extract on testicular function, sexual behavior, and sperm quality in DexCS male mice. Seventy-two ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, DexCS, TGP (50, 100, and 200) + DexCS, and TGP200. Mice received TGP (50, 100, 200 mg/kgBW) for 14 days before DEX co-treatment for 28 days. Behavioral and reproductive assessments included depression-like behavior tests, sexual behavior, sperm quality, testicular histopathology, steroidogenesis proteins (AR, CYP11A1, StAR), and apoptosis markers (Hsp70, caspase-3, caspase-9). TGP extract—which is rich in phenolics and flavonoids with antioxidant activity—improved depressive behavior, sexual performance, testicular histology, and low sperm quality. TGP also upregulated testicular StAR expression while reducing caspase-3 and caspase-9 levels. TGP prevents testicular apoptosis, sexual dysfunction, and poor sperm motility induced by DexCS.