Abstract
We examined the protective effect of the apigeninidin (API)-enriched fraction from Sorghum bicolor sheaths extracts (SBE-05, SBE-06, and SBE-07) against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced dysregulation of male rat's reproductive system that may trigger infertility. Male rats (160 ± 12 g) were treated with AFB1 (50 µg/kg) along with 5 or 10 mg/kg of SBE-05, SBE-06, and SBE-07 for 28 days. Subsequently, we assessed the reproductive hormone-prolactin, FSH, LH, testosterone levels, and testicular function enzymes. Moreover, we examined rats' testes, epididymis, and hypothalamus for oxidative and inflammatory stress biomarkers, caspase-9 activity and tissues pathology. We observed that comparative to AFB1 alone treated rats, API co-treatment significantly (p < 0.05) abated the AFB1-mediated decrease in prolactin and antioxidant defenses and lessened lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels in the examined organs-testes, epididymis, and hypothalamus. API abated AFB1-induced hormone decreases-testosterone, FSH, and LH; and caused improvement in sperm quantity and quality. API lessened AFB1-mediated increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine, increased interleukin-10 level, an anti-inflammatory cytokine and reduced caspase-9 activities. In addition, API reduced alterations in the examined tissue histology. Our findings suggest that S. bicolor API-enrich extracts have active antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities, which can protect against AFB1-induced dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.