Pharmacological intervention of biosynthesized Nigella sativa silver nanoparticles against hexavalent chromium induced toxicity in male albino mice

Tooba Nauroze; Shaukat Ali; Lubna Kanwal; Tafail Akbar Mughal; Shagufta Andleeb; Chaman Ara

doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103570

Pharmacological intervention of biosynthesized Nigella sativa silver nanoparticles against hexavalent chromium induced toxicity in male albino mice

Saudi J Biol Sci. 2023 Mar;30(3):103570. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103570. Epub 2023 Jan 25.

Authors

Tooba Nauroze^{1

2}, Shaukat Ali¹, Lubna Kanwal^{1

3}, Tafail Akbar Mughal^{1

4}, Shagufta Andleeb², Chaman Ara⁵

Affiliations

¹ Applied Entomology and Medical Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan.
² Department of Zoology, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan.
³ Department of Zoology, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Zoology, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh, Pakistan.
⁵ Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

Abstract

Hexavalent chromium, toxic heavy metal, among the top-rated environmental contaminants, is declared a potent endocrine disruptor in humans and animals. The present study was planned to find harmful effects on the reproductive system caused by Cr (VI) and the ameliorative effect of Nigella sativa and Nigella sativa-mediated AgNP on male mice (Mus musculus). In the present study, known infertility medicine, clomiphene citrate is also used as a positive control. The main objective of the present study was to assess the ameliorative potential of oral administration of a dose of 50 mg/kg BW clomiphene citrate (control), AgNP via chemical synthesis, Nigella sativa seed extract, and Nigella sativa-mediated AgNP against the Cr (VI) at the dose of 1.5 mg/kg BW from K₂Cr₂O₇ orally induced toxicity over eight weeks on the reproductive performance of male albino mice. Nigella sativa mediated AgNPs were characterized by UV, SEM, FTIR, and XRD. The histological analysis, smear study, antioxidant capacity test, and hormone analysis were conducted by blood samples of albino mice. Cr exposed groups showed a significant decrease in sperm head breadth (5.29 ± 0.54 µ) and length (19.54 ± 1.18 µ), middle piece length, tail length, LH (1.65 ± 0.15 ng/mL), testosterone (2.63 ± 0.29 ng/mL), SOD (61.40 ± 2.48 mmol/mL), CAT (87.40 ± 6.01 mmol/mL), GSH (1.54 ± 0.09 µmol/mL), and no of spermatogonia (1.22 ± 0.25), and spermatocytes (2.33 ± 0.943). However, FSH level (160.00 ± 4.98 ng/mL), seminiferous tubule CSA (1094.69 ± 49.76 mm²), size of spermatogonia (41.30 ± 1.24 µ), and spermatocytes (26.07 ± 1.34 µ) were significantly increased. Administration of Nigella sativa and Nigella sativa-mediated AgNPs reduced the toxicity.

Keywords: AgNP, Silver Nanoparticles; Antioxidant potential; Ar, Androgen receptor; CAT, Catalase; CC, Clomiphene citrate; CSA, Cross sectional area; Cr (VI), Hexavalent chromium; DTQ, Dithymoquinone; FSHR, Follicle stimulating hormone receptor; GSH, Glutathione; GSI, Gonadosomatic index; Hexavalent chromium; Histopathology; K2Cr2O7, Potassium dichromate; LCs, Leydig's cells; LHR, Luteinizing hormone receptor; Micrometry; NS, Nigella sativa; Nigella sativa; PRLR, Prolactin receptor; ROS, Reactive oxygen species; SC, Sertoli cell; SOD, Superoxide dismutase; ST, Seminiferous tubule; StAR, Steroidogenic acute regulatory; THQ, Thymohydroquinone; THY, Thymol; TQ, Thymoquinone; Testes.