Antioxidant Effects of Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea) on Testicular and Epididymal Weight of Obese Sprague Dawley Rats

• Published in: J. Islamic Int. Med. Coll. Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 157 - 161
• Main Author: Somia Iqbal, Shazia Ali, Arif Siddiqui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Riphah International University, Islamabad 01.11.2021
• Subjects: epididymis, obesity, spinach, testes
• ISSN: 1815-4018; 2410-5422

Objective: To determine the antioxidant effects of spinach on the weight of testes and epididymis in obese Sprague Dawley rats. Study Design: Experimental, randomized control study. Place and Duration of Study: It was carried out from April 2016 to March 2017 in the department of physiology of Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: Total 40 male Sprague Dawley rats of about 8 weeks were included. They were randomly divided into Group A- Fed on standard diet and Experimental group- Fed on high fat diet to induce obesity. At the end of 6 week, after inducing obesity, experimental group was subdivided into Group B and Group C. Weight of the testes and epididymis of Group A and Group B rats was recorded. Then 5% spinach was given to Group C along with high fat diet for 4 weeks and finally weight of the testes and epididymis was measured. Results: Weight of the testes and epididymis (g) of Group B (1.32 ± 0.53g) rats was significantly decreased (P<0.001) as compared to Group A (1.88 ± 0.92g) rats. However, weight of testes and epididymis (g) of Group C (1.92 ± 0.49g) rats was significantly increased (P<0.001) as compared to Group B (1.32 ± 0.53g) rats after spinach intake. Conclusion: Intake of spinach supplemented diet has ameliorative effects on weight of testes and epididymis in response to deleterious effects caused by obesity-induced oxidative stress.