Protective Role of Lycopene Against Paclitaxel-Induced Testicular Toxicity: A Review of Insights into Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Mechanisms

Background: Chemotherapy is still the main treatment of choice in cancer cases since it can treat a wide range of different types of cancer. Among the chemotherapeutic agents, paclitaxel (PTX) which is derived from the taxane family has been extensively used in the management of breast, lung, bladder, endometrial, and cervical cancers among others. The use of PTX can come certain major adverse effects like oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation which might eventually end up causing testicular injury and reduction in fertility. Clinical evidence revealed high rate of infertility in male cancer survivors as an indication of the gonadotoxicity of chemotherapy. Lycopene (LYC), a carotenoid that occurs naturally and possesses very strong antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory activities, has been identified as a likely protective agent. This review discusses the various ways through which PTX can cause testicular toxicity and at the same time assess the ability of lycopene to intervene these effects. Administration of lycopene alongside PTX could bring down the oxidative and inflammatory damage caused by the latter as LYC is a potent free radical scavenger and indirectly regulates the antioxidant system besides its anti-inflammatory effect that reduces inflammatory mediator levels like TNF- α and thus could help in the maintenance of the testicular structure and function and in the improvement of the male fertility outcomes.