Remedy from Leaves: Ziziphus mauritiana Mitigates Neuronal and Reproductive DamageInduced by 1,4-Dioxane in Male Sprague Dawley Rats

Plants have been utilized for therapeutic purposes since ancient times due to their effective healing properties without much side effects.Bioactive compounds present in medicinal plants are responsible for treating and preventing several diseases.Ziziphus mauritiana (family Rhamnaceae) also known as Indian jujube, possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, neuroprotective and other biological activities.The main purpose of current work was to investigate protective effect of Ziziphus mauritiana's leaves extract against 1,4-dioxane induced toxicity.1,4-Dioxane, a cyclic diether, is an extensive water contaminant inducing severe toxicity and damaging human/animal health at many levels.Twenty-five male Sprague Dawley rats were distributed into five groups, C (control group), G1 (1,4-dioxane 3000ppm treated group), G2 (1,4-dioxane+ Z. mauritiana 3000ppm+ 120mg/kg treated group), G3 (1,4-dioxane+ Z. mauritiana 3000ppm+ 240mg/kg treated group) and G4 (1,4-dioxane+ Z. mauritiana 3000ppm+ 360mg/kg treated group) in triplicates which were gavaged orally for 60 days.After trial completion, brain and testis were excised, cleansed, and preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin for bioassays and histological observations.Declined body weights, oxidative stress induction, elevated AchE activity, hormonal imbalance (testosterone, FSH and LH) and decreased sperm count besides deteriorated histological structures were observed in G1.However, Z. mauritiana treated groups exhibited clear improvement in these parameters.Results indicated that G4 group showed maximum improvement in body weight, AchE inhibition, hormonal balance, sperm count and histological structures underscoring the mitigating potential of Z. mauritiana 's leaves extract in attenuating the neurological and reproductive toxicities induced by 1,4-dioxane.