Clitoria ternatea mitigates cisplatin-induced testicular damage in albino rats

Cisplatin (CIS), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, is known to cause significant testicular toxicity as a major side effect, leading to impaired fertility in male patients. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic role of Clitoria ternatea (CT) extract against CIS-induced testicular damage in rats. Key assessments included evaluating biological endpoints, such as testicular weight, relative testes weight, sperm parameters, antioxidant enzyme activity like superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), testosterone levels, and histological alterations using specific staining techniques such as hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Mallory’s Trichrome, Periodic Acid-Schiff stain (PAS) and Androgen-binding protein (ABP), along with pronounced degeneration of testicular tissue architecture. Cisplatin significantly reduced sperm count (↓68%) and testosterone (↓77%) while elevating oxidative stress markers (e.g., NO doubled, GSH ↓29%, SOD ↓73%). Conversely, rats treated with CT extract (CIS-CT100 group) showed significant improvements in these reproductive parameters, with restoration of sperm count, testosterone, and antioxidant defenses, while improving histological integrity and preservation of seminiferous tubule structure. Interestingly, the group that received CT extract alone demonstrated no adverse effects, indicating its safety.These findings suggest that CT flower extract exerts protective effects against CIS-induced testicular toxicity, likely due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-regenerative properties. Therefore, CT may offer a promising natural intervention for reducing the reproductive side effects associated with chemotherapeutic agents like CIS.