Cisplatin-Induced Ovarian Cytotoxicity and the Modulating Role of Aqueous Zest Extract of Citrus limonium (AZECL) in Rat Models

Akunna GG^1*, Nwafor J¹, Egwu OA¹, Ezemagu UK¹, Obaje G¹, Adepoju LH¹ and Akingbade AM²

¹Department of Anatomy, Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State, Nigeria

²Department of Anatomy, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author:

Akunna GG
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI)
Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Tel: +23408038619526
E-mail: ggakunna@gmail.com, gabriel.akunna@funai.edu.ng

Received date: June 29, 2017; Accepted date: July 11, 2017; Published date: July 17, 2017

Citation: Akunna GG, Nwafor J, Egwu OA, Ezemagu UK, Obaje G, et al. (2017) Cisplatin-Induced Ovarian Cytotoxicity and the Modulating Role of Aqueous Zest Extract of Citrus limonium (AZECL) in Rat Models. J Tradit Med Clin Natur 6:228.

Copyright: © 2017 Akunna GG, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Abstract

Cisplatin is a prominent member of the effective broad-spectrum antitumor drugs. However, its clinical usage is restricted due to some adverse side effects, such as testiculototoxicity, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Aqueous Zest Extract of Citrus limonium (AZECL) on the ovary of female Wistar rat treated with Cisplatin. Twenty adult female Wistar rats were divided into four groups (A-D) containing five rats each. Group A rats served as negative control and were treated orally with 2.5 ml/kg body weight of normal saline, group B rats served as positive control group and were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight of Cisplatin, group C rats were treated orally with 50 mg/kg body weight of AZECL and group D rats were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight of Cisplatin and two weeks later treated orally with 50 mg/kg body weight of AZECL. Result showed a significant (p<0.01) decrease in primary follicles, secondary follicles, graafian follicles and a significant (p<0.01) increase in atretic follicles, PAS positive reaction and reduction in the total carbohydrate contents of the stromal cells in the positive control group. Also there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the activity level of FSH, LH and a significant (p<0.05) increase in Malondialdehyde when compared to rats in group A and C. The group post-treated with the extract had remarkable normalization of the histo-morphometric, histochemical and biochemical parameters when compared to the positive control group. Aqueous zests extract of C. limonium has a curative effect on cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity on the ovary.

Keywords

Citrus limonum zest; Cisplatin; Ovary; Histo-morphometry

Introduction

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent used for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. Cisplatin have been implicated in premature ovarian failure, changes in the estrous cycle, increased follicular apoptosis, and a reduction in the number of Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) secreting follicles among several women undergoing chemotherapy [1,2]. Ovarian failure is attributed to the inability of primordial follicular cells to regenerate [3]. Cisplatin treatment has also been associated with conditions such as nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity among others [4].

Lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial damage, and DNA injury has been associated with increased generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), a major mechanism pathway for cisplatin-induced toxicity [5-9].

Citrus limonium (Lemon) is an important food source of the plant family Rutaceae. Generally, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anticancer and antiviral activities of citrus flavonoids have been shown [10-12]. Peel, flowers and leaves of Citrus aurantium have been employed in minimizing central nervous system disorders in traditional medicine [13]. Flavonoids, a major phytochemical in citrus fruits has been shown to act as direct antioxidants and free radical scavengers together with modulating enzymatic activities and inhibiting cell proliferation. It has also been reported that fiber of citrus fruit contains bioactive compounds, such as ascorbic acid. In this study, we aimed to investigate modulating role effect of AZECL on the ovary of female Wistar rat treated with anticancer agent Cisplatin. We believed that AZECL will attenuate cisplatin-induced toxicities by reducing number of atretic follicules, lipid peroxidation by measures of malondialdehyde, total carbohydrate contents of the stromal cells through PAS positive reactions and increase in activity level of FSH, LH.

Materials and Methods

Plant materials

Plant source and identification: Fresh lemon fruits (Citrus limonum) were obtained from a farmland, identified and authenticated at the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi state University.

Preparation of aqueous zest extract of Citrus limonum: Lemon fruits were peeled with a zester or grater [14]. The zests were rinsed in clean water and dried at room temperature for about 2 weeks. It was grinded and reduced to a powdered form.

Calculated amount of volume of distilled water and powdered sample were mixed and the mixture was allowed to stand for 30 min before filtration. The mixture was then centrifuged and supernatant were collected, cleaned of particles by suction filtration using Whatmann no 1. Filter paper and cellulose filter paper. The extracts was then concentrated to dryness in vacuum at 40°C using a rotary evaporator and stored in a desiccator. Fresh solution of the different extract was then prepared in normal saline as vehicle when required [15,16].

Phytochemical analysis of the extracts: The phytochemical analysis to determine the presence of Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Saponins and Tannins was done as describe by Akunna et al. [16]

Animals

Twenty female Wistar rats (mature) weighing 100-150 g were obtained from Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

The animals acclimatize for 2 weeks and were fed freely on standard commercial mouse cubes from Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI).

Constant environmental condition were maintained (12 h light-12 h dark and 24°C ± 30°C). The weights of the animals were estimated using an electronic analytical and precision balance (PA, 4102).

Permission from the departmental ethical committee on animal research was gotten before the start of the experiment.

Experimental procedures involving the animals and their care were conducted in conformity with International, National and institutional guidelines for the care of laboratory animals in Biomedical Research and Use of Laboratory Animals in Biomedical Research as promulgated by the Canadian Council of Animal Care.

Animal groupings and treatments

This study was conducted in four (A, B, C and D) undisturbed cages. Twenty female rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. Group A rats served as the negative control group and were treated with 5 ml/kg body weight of normal saline daily for 3 weeks. Group B rats served as positive control and were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight of Cisplatin. Group C rats were treated orally with 50 mg/kg body weight of AZECL per day for 3 weeks while Group D rats were treated with a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight of cisplatin and 10 days later were orally treated with 50 mg/kg body weight of AZECL per day for 11 days.

Animal sacrifice and sample collection

The rats were weighed and sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Blood samples were collected from the heart of each rat immediately after sacrifice with the aid of a 21G needle mounted on a 5 mL syringe (Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices Ltd., Faridabad, India). This was inserted into the heart based on prior palpation of the apex beat. At least about 5 ml of blood was aspirated after which the thoracic cage was opened to allow direct access and more blood collected under adequate direct visualization of the heart. The blood obtained into tubes containing 2% sodium oxalate and centrifuged (3000 rpm for 10 min) accordingly using a table top centrifuge (P/C 03) and the serum extracted. The abdominal cavity was opened up through a midline abdominal incision and the ovaries were excised and one of the ovaries from each animal was fixed in Bouin’s fluid for histomorphometric analysis. Serum and the remaining ovary homogenate of each animal were stored at -25oC for biochemical assays.

Determination of biochemical parameters

Serum hormonal assays-Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and progesterone (PROG). The assays were done according to the procedure adapted by Amballi et al. [17]. Briefly, one aliquot of each centrifuged specimen was taken at a time, to avoid repeated freezing and thawing, and the samples were analyzed for hormone estimation using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA), according to the World Health Organization (WHO) matched reagent programme protocol (manual) for EIA kits (protocol/version of December 1998 for LH, FSH). Serum progesterone was determined by ELISA using MAP LAB PLUS (Biochemical systems international, RM 2060) according to the manufacturer’s direction.

Estimation of lipid peroxidation (Malondialdehyde)

Lipid peroxidation in the ovarian tissue was estimated colorimetrically by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) method of Buege and Aust as described by Saalu [18]. It was expressed as nmol/mg protein.

Tissue preparation for histology and histochemistry

The fixed tissues were processed for histological and histochemical analysis as described by Akunna et al. [19]. Sections were stained with H&E and Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction with hematoxylin counterstaining for histological and histochemical study respectively. The slides were viewed under a research microscope connected to a computer monitor for qualitative and quantitative evaluation.

Morphometric analysis

Ovarian follicles were identified and classified as described by Peters and Natty [20] while atretic follicles were identified following morphological criteria described by Greenwald and Roy [21].

Statistical Analysis

The results gotten from this study were expressed as mean ± SD of different groups. The differences between the mean values were evaluated by ANOVA followed by Student’s “t” test using SPSS (version 20).

Results

Results of phytochemical analysis

We observed the presence of saponins, tannins and flavonoids, with tannins constituting the highest while Saponin was noted to be the lowest. Alkaloids were not detected in the extract as shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Phytochemical constituents of AZECL.

Body Weight of Rats

The results of the body weight were outline. This result showed a progressive increase in body weight of rats used in this experiment throughout the period of study. However, there was a non-significant (p>0.05) decrease in body weight of the animals in group B at 2nd week of administration as shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Effect of cisplatin and AZECL on body weights (g) of female Wistar rats.

Histomorphometry of the Ovary

The morphology of the ovaries was verified on the following: Primary follicles, secondary follicles, graffian follicles and atretic follicles (Table 3). Results showed a significant (p<0.01) decrease in primary follicles, secondary follicles, graffian follicles and a significant (p<0.01) increase in atretic follicles of rats treated with cisplatin-alone (group B). The rats in group C had geometric values comparable to that of the negative control group. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in primary follicles, secondary follicles and graftable fian follicles in rats post-treated with AZECL (group D) and a significant (p<0.01) decrease in atretic follicles when compared to the rats treated with only cisplatin (group B).

Table 3: Effect of cisplatin and AZECL on primary follicles, secondary follicles, graffian follicles and atretic follicles of female Wistar rats.

Histochemical Observations

Total carbohydrates

Examination of ovary of control rats revealed that the germinal epithelial cells and the stromal cells showed a slight PAS positive reaction. The ovum of primary, secondary and Graafian follicles showed a moderate reactivity while the cytoplasm of their granulosa was slightly stained. The Zona pellucida encircling the oocyte in the different types of the follicles had a marked reaction. The corona radiata and the theca folliculi showed slightly positive PAS-reaction whereas the antrum of the follicles was negatively stained. The luteal cells of the corpora lutea appeared slightly reactive with PAS-reaction. The core of the atretic follicles showed a moderate PAS-positive reaction. Examination of ovary of rats treated with cisplatin and AZECL showed reduction in the total carbohydrate contents of the stromal cells, the ovum of primary, secondary and Graafian follicles compared with those of cisplatin alone treated animals (Figures 1-8).

Figure 1: Cross-section of the ovary negative control rats (2.5 ml/kg body weight of normal saline). Slide showing the Antrum, Zona pellucida, Oocyte, Cumulus Oophorus (CO) and Granulosa Cells (GC). Stain: Haematoxylin and Eosin; Magnification: 400X.

Figure 2: Cross-section of the ovary of negative control rats (2.5 ml/kg body weight of normal saline). Slide showing the Antrum, Graffian Follicles (GF), Theca Interna (TI), Theca Externa (TE), Stain: PAS; Magnification: 400X.

Figure 3: Cross-section of the ovary of positive control rats (10 mg/kg). Slide showing Atretic Follicles (AF) and some blood vessels. Stain: Haematoxylin and Eosin; Magnification: 400X.

Figure 4: Cross-section of the ovary of positive control rats (10 mg/kg). Slide showing the Atretic Follicles (AF) and corpus lithium. Stain: PAS; Magnification: 400X.

Figure 5: Cross-section of the ovary of rat treated with AZECL alone (50 mg/ kg). Slide showing the Atretic Follicles (AF). Stain: Haematoxylin and Eosin; Magnification: 400X.

Figure 6: Cross-section of the ovary of rat treated with AZECL alone (50 mg/kg). Slide showing the Theca Interna (TI), Theca Externa (TE), Primary follicles, secondary follicles. Stain: PAS; Magnification: 400X.

Figure 7: Cross-section of the ovary of rats post-treated with AZECL (10 mg/kg of Cisplatin+50 mg/kg of AZECL). Slide showing Antrum, Theca Externa (TE), Oocyte, Primary Follicles (PF), Secondary Follicles (SF) and Zona pellucid (ZP). Stain: Haematoxylin and Eosin; Magnification: 400X.

Figure 8: Cross-section of the ovary of rats post-treated with AZECL (10 mg/kg of Cisplatin+50 mg/kg of AZECL). Slide showing the Antrum, Theca Interna (TI), Theca Externa (TE) and Primary Follicles (PF). Stain: PAS; Magnification: 400X.

Biochemical Results

The effect of cisplatin and AZECL on the three main female reproductive hormones namely FSH, LH and PROG activities and MDA levels were verified as shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Biochemical results.

The rats treated with cisplatin alone had a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the level of FSH, LH and a significant (p<0.01) decrease in the activity level of PROG when compared with those of the negative control.

The rats in group C had a fluctuation in the level of FSH, LH and PROG but geometric values comparable to that of rats in group A. There was a significant (p<0.05) improvement in the activity level of FSH, LH and PROG in rats post-treated with the extract (group D) rats when compared to rats in group B. In the level of MDA the animals in group B showed a significant (p<0.01) increase when compared to animals in group A while the animals in group D showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the level of MDA when compared to animals in group B.

Discussion

General considerations

The use of cisplatin has been reduced due to severe cytotoxic side effects [22-24]. Due to elevated mitotic activities, gonads are one of the main targets [25].

Chemotherapy treatment has long been associated with premature ovarian failure and infertility in premenopausal patients. It is often assumed that chemotherapy drugs directly damage oocytes in the primordial follicle reserve and that it is this loss that leads to premature ovarian failure [26,27].

Animal-based researches have improved our understanding the underlying processes and a way forward to restoring the reproductive potential [28-34].

Gross Anatomical Parameters

In this study, the results show a progressive increase in body mass of experimental models throughout the duration of the study. Nevertheless, there exists a non-significant decrease in body weight of the animals in group B at 2nd week of administration. Our results in this regard were not in line with that of Atessahin et al. This could mean that the experimental animals have not passed their active growth phase or that the feeding habit was increased as a result of cisplatin toxicity [35,36].

Although Saalu et al.; Akunna and Ogunmodede; Akunna; Akunna and Saalu [32-40]; Akunna et al. [39-41]; Akingbade et al. [42]; Malarvizhi and Mathur [43], Setchell [44] and Creasy [45] have associated gonadal weight to infertility, it is important to state at this juncture that we couldn’t determine the weight of the ovary because of the surrounding fats and adipose tissue which may influence the results.

The Morphological Effects

From our study, the follicular count showed a significant decrease in primary follicles, secondary follicles, graffian follicles and a significant (p<0.01) increase in atretic follicles of rats in group B when compared to the corresponding control (Group A). Data here are consistent with these findings, showing an increase in unhealthy follicles, and a reduction in total follicle number, following treatment with Cisplatin [27,46].

According to Perez [47], mice exposed to chemotherapeutic agents displayed apoptosis of granulosa cells in primordial follicles. Meirow [26] also evaluated human ovarian slices post-cisplatin exposure in vitro and his reports were consistent with that of Perez [48]. Our results were also in line with these findings as revealed by the impaired integrity of the surrounding granulosa layer in most of the follicles examined and significantly reduced number of primordial cells in cisplatin alone treated rats. Of course the damaging effects of cisplatin on ovarian follicles have been previously reported [49,50]. Yucebilgin et al. [1] reported a significantly damage primordial follicles in rats after a single dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg) and paclitaxel (7.5 mg/kg) [1]. The geometric results in our study are in line with other reports on cisplatin-induced injury [51,52].

Histochemical results showed that rats treated with cisplatin alone had an increase in carbohydrate content when compared to the negative control as shown by histochemistry. The increased carbohydrate contents may be due to disturbance in carbohydrate metabolism. A significant increase in both blood glucose and liver glycogen in experimental animals have been reported.

The biochemical effects

The ovarian toxicity recorded in this study might be due to increase in lipid peroxidation resulting from the toxicity of cisplatin or its metabolite as shown previously in our laboratory [53]. Mathews [54] reported that the damage occurred in the cell membrane by hydroxyl radicals induced oxidation. This could also explain the marked degeneration, atrophied ovary and decrease number of viable follicles reported in this study which are in line with several reports [23,25,55-57].

Oxidative stress, a condition of an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidant defense system, is an important factor in the pathogenesis system that has high content of polyunsaturated membrane lipid [58]. Recent study indicated that cisplatin led to neurotoxic effects in human and animals via induction of lipid peroxidation [59]. Our present work showed that cisplatin produced a significant increase in MDA level that induced lipid peroxidation in the brain tissues accompanied with suppression in SOD activity [60]. On the other hand, therapeutic effects of cisplatin based on the interaction with DNA in the cell, preventing proliferation and inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. According to Mukhopadhyay et al. [61]; cisplatin induced mitochondrial ROS generation triggered inflammatory response, cell death and ovarian dysfunction.

It has also been suggested that cisplatin is able to generate reactive oxygen species by inducing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and hexokinase activity and inhibit the activity of antioxidant enzyme in tissue such as SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px [62].

MDA, an aldehyde product of lipid peroxidation, is commonly used as a marker of oxidative stress in cells and in the present study; we observed a significant increase in ovary MDA levels in cisplatin-alone treated. Our result is line with that of Atasayar et al. [63].

The rat models post-treated with AZECL had remarkable normalization of these parameters. Due to abundant phytochemicals in plants, they have been utilized for various ailments traditionally and cisplatin induced toxicity [64,65]. Improved ovarian histology and function post-antioxidants treatment has been reported severally [66,67].

In this study, we observed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the level of FSH, LH and PROG in rat treated with cisplatin. FSH stimulates the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles by acting directly on the receptors which are located on the granulosa cells. As indicated in our study, the reduction in the levels of FSH by the cisplatin might have hampered folliculogenesis and delayed maturation of the follicle in the pre-ovulatory phase. It is also likely that that cisplatin might have had effect on the hypothalamus since the secretion of FSH is regulated by the hypothalamus through gonadotropic releasing hormone secreted.

It has been indicated that LH release surges at the proestrus stage initiates ovulation. Hence any substance capable of preventing the release of LH could interfere with ovulation by decreasing the number of mature follicles [68]. The group of rat that where post treated with AZECL had a significant (p<0.05) improvement in the level LH. Alkaloids and flavonoids from plants have been shown to reduce plasma concentrations of LH, estradiol and FSH [69]. Therefore, the presence of these phytochemicals (flavonoids) in AZECL in may account in part for the improvements observed in our study.

The decreased level of MDA after AZECL treatment may be a defense mechanism against oxygen free radical damage. Concerning the effect of Citrus limonum, when animals treated with cisplatin followed by AZECL marked improvement in the histological picture of ovary and the number of healthy follicles was seen as compared with ovary of animals treated with cisplatin alone.

Plants such as Zingiber officinale, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Curcuma longa have been reported to reduce CIS-induced toxicity [70-74].

The curative potential of AZECL might be attributed to these active molecules individually or synergistically indirectly through pituitary-gonadal axis or directly by sensitizing the follicular receptors to the available gonadotrophins. Also, the reduction in follicular atresia by AZECL may be due to availability of extra ovarian regulators, the gonadotrophins (FSH and LH). The active substances in the AZECL might have stimulated follicular growth in the ovaries by interfering at the level of receptors and mRNA expression of these intra ovarian and intra follicular regulating factors. Post-treatment with AZECL could have attenuated the cisplatin ovarian toxicity through a reduction of free radicals.

Conclusion

This study has demonstrated that post-treatment with aqueous zest extract of Citrus limonum containing powerful antioxidant vitamins and citrus bioflavonoids exerted a potent protective activity against cisplatin-induced morphological and biochemical impairment of the ovary of Wistar rats.

Limitation of the Study

We couldn’t isolate the active ingredients from AZECL hence structural elucidation was out of the picture. This could have provided more insight into the possible mechanism of action of AZECL.

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