Protective effects of Moringa oleifera against cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative and reproductive damage in male rabbits

Cyclophosphamide (CP), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, induces reproductive toxicity through oxidative stress and associated cellular damage. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) leaf extract, a plant rich in antioxidants and micronutrients, against CP-induced testicular and epididymal toxicity in adult male rabbits. Twenty-one rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 7): Group I (Control): received distilled water orally; Group II (CP): received CP (50 mg/kg/week, intraperitoneally); Group III (MO+CP): received MO extract (300 mg/kg/day, orally) in combination with CP for four weeks. Reproductive assessed included testicular and epididymal weights, semen analysis, DNA fragmentation, testicular and epididymal histopathology, oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, GPx), trace elements (Zn, iron), and hormones (testosterone, LH, FSH). CP administration significantly impaired reproductive function, reducing sperm motility decreasing by approximately 43%, and MDA levels increasing by 152%, along with altered trace element levels, and reduced hormone concentrations. MO co-treatment significantly mitigated these effects, reducing MDA levels by approximately 46%, increasing SOD and GPx activities, and partially restoring (70–85%) testosterone and sperm parameters close to control values. These findings suggest that MO leaf extract may serve as a promising natural antioxidant agent to alleviate CP-induced male reproductive toxicity, likely by reducing lipid peroxidation (↓MDA), enhancing antioxidant defenses (↑SOD, GPx), and stabilizing essential trace elements.