Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus), and Coenzyme Q10, ameliorates sodium valproate induced reproductive toxicity in rat model

This study was conducted to analyze the impact of lemongrass ( Cymbopogon Citratus ) powder (CP) and aqueous extract (CA) with and without coenzyme Q10 supplementation on reproductive toxicity induced by sodium valproate (SVA) in rat model. Forty-eight male albino rats (210 ± 5g) were divided randomly into 6 groups (n=8 rats).Experimental design; group (1) fed on basal diet as normal control (-ve).Groups(2 - 6) received sodium valproate (SVA) orally at dose 500mg/kg/BW daily on the final week of the experimental duration (45 days)to induce reproductive toxicity.Group(2) fed on basal diet with orally SVA at dose 500mg/kg/BW daily (on the final week) as reproductive toxicity control (+ ve),group (3) treated with coenzyme Q10 at dose (150 mg/kg/BW) + (SVA), group (4) treated withle mongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) powder (CP) at dose (150 gm/kgdiet) + (SVA), group (5) treated with lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) aqueous extract (CA) at dose (150 mg/kg/BW)+ (SVA) and group (6) treated with mixture of(coenzyme Q10+CP+CA) at (50 mg/kg/BW+ 50 gm/kg diet + 50mg/kg/BW, respectively)+(SVA).The antioxidant and phenolic compounds of lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) leaves and its aqueous extract were estimated.Lemongrass(Cymbopogon Citratus) leaves and its aqueous extract contained remarkable amounts of antioxidant compounds.The results showed the groups treated with lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) leaves, aqueous extract and coenzyme Q10 affected the relative weight of (testis and seminal vesicles) positively. Moreover, the parameters determined in this study showed improvement in these levels when compared with reproductive toxicity control. The best results for parameters that were determined in this study, as serum lipid profiles and liver enzymes, testicular antioxidant and lipid peroxidation biomarkers, serum testosterone, (FSH) and (LH) levels in addition,sperm count were shown in groups were treated with (coenzyme Q10+CP+CA) then CP followed by coenzyme Q10 and CA respectively, but most results showed non-significant difference between these groups.The study showed that,lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) alone or combined with coenzyme Q10 has a powerful protection benefits versus SVA-induced reproductive toxicity in rat model, without causing severe oxidative injury to the reproductive organs and hormonal levels that could be attributable to its antioxidants, phenolics and flavonoid contents that related mainly to ameliorate reproductive toxicity induced by sodium valproate in rat model.