GC-MS-based profiling and ameliorative potential of Carissa opaca Stapf ex Haines fruit against cardiac and testicular toxicity: An In vivo study

Hassan H Alhassan; Lamya Ahmed Al-Keridis; Huma Ayub; Fawaz O Alenazy; Yasir Alruwaili; Muhammad Rashid Khan; Mehreen Fatima; Mitesh Patel; Nawaf Alshammari; Mohd Adnan; Sumaira Sahreen

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19324

GC-MS-based profiling and ameliorative potential of Carissa opaca Stapf ex Haines fruit against cardiac and testicular toxicity: An In vivo study

Heliyon. 2023 Aug 19;9(8):e19324. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19324. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences-Sakaka, Jouf University, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Zoology, Mirpur University of Science & Technology, Azad Jammu and Kashmir AJK, Mirpur, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
⁵ Research and Development Cell, Department of Biotechnology, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara, 391760, India.
⁶ Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail, P O Box 2440, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, 11800, Malaysia.
⁸ Botanical Sciences Division, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian Road, 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Abstract

Fruit of Carissa opaca Stapf ex Haines (C. opaca) is a feed additive and is commonly used against cardiac dysfunction, fever, asthma, diarrhea, gastrointestinal ailments, and skin diseases. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the metabolic profile and antioxidant potential of C. opaca fruit against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced cardiotoxicity and testicular toxicity in rats. Gas Chromatoghraphy-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of C. opaca fruit for the identification of potential metabolic profile, followed by methanolic extract of C. opaca and its derived fractions including n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, butanol, and aqueous were used to assess the antioxidant potential of fruits. Ten groups of rats received different treatments and got evaluated for cardiac and testicular antioxidant enzymes, histological architecture, and serum hormonal levels. GC-MS analysis of methanolic extract of C. opaca fruit showed the presence of some bioactive metabolites like cyclodecane, diethyl 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylate, tetrahydro-geraniol, S-[2-[N, N-Dimethylamino]ethyl]morpoline, 2,3-Methylenedioxyphenol, alpha-d-Glucopyranoside, 5,10-Diethoxy-2,3,7,8-tetrahydro-1H, 6H-dipyrrolo [1,2-a; 1',2'-d] pyrazine and 1,3-Benzothiazol-2(3H)-one,3-(3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutyl) that corresponds the medicinal properties of C. opaca fruit. Prepared fractions of C. opaca fruits mitigated the toxicity induced by CCl₄ in the heart and testicular tissues of rats. Oxidative stress was caused by the inhibition of activities of glutathione and other antioxidant enzymes of the body, while on the other hand elevating the levels of nitrite and hydrogen peroxide. Treatment with C. opaca fruit extract normalized the levels of enzymes, reproductive hormones, and free radicals thus restoring the histopathological and enzymatic biomarkers towards the normal group. The study supports the indigenous use of fruits as an alternative medicine against cardiac dysfunction by providing scientific evidence of protection against CCl₄-induced injuries, and it also concludes the antioxidant defensive role in testicular tissues.

Keywords: Carbon tetrachloride; Cardiotoxicity; Carissa opaca; GC-MS; Oxidative stress; testicular toxicity.