Exploring the protective effect of silver Croton tiglium nano-extract against azoxymethane induced toxicity in female reproductive organs in rats

Reproductive toxicity from food and environmental contaminants has greatly affected human life. Plants are a fundamental source of bioactive components for relieving the harmful effects of pollutants. Hydrazine metabolites pose health threats when they enter the food chain. <i>Croton tiglium</i> (<i>C. tiglium</i>) exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. Silver nanoparticles enhance the chemical stability of <i>C. tiglium</i>. Reproductive toxicity of Azoxymethane (AOM) and anticancer effects of silver <i>C. tiglium</i> were evaluated. Thirty-six adult female rats were divided into six groups (<i>n = 6</i>) and treated with AOM with or without silver <i>C. tiglium</i> nano-extract as pre- and post-treatment. Sexual hormones and proteins were assessed under silver <i>C. tiglium</i> nano-extract and AOM. Histopathologically, AOM caused metaplastic myometrial endometriotic cysts and endometrial metaplasia. Silver <i>C. tiglium</i> in pre- and post-treated rats mitigated the carcinogenic effects of AOM. Immunohistochemically, AOM carcinogenicity was evident through moderate detection of the CK-7 tumor marker in the ovaries and uterus of the AOM-, simultaneous-, and post-treated groups. <i>C. tiglium</i> ameliorated this, with CK-7 slightly expressed in the pre-treated group. Furthermore, <i>C. tiglium</i> alleviated the negative impact on FSH, LH, and 17-β estradiol hormones. In conclusion, Silver <i>C. tiglium</i> nano-extract successfully prevented tumors in the ovaries and uterus of AOM-treated rats.