The Potential Protective Role of Tiger Nut (Cyperus esculentus) Against Clomipramine-Induced Alterations in Sex Hormones and Testicular Tissue in Male Mice

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30526/39.3.4319

Keywords:

FSH, LH, male reproductive system, fertility, Testosterone

Abstract

Clomipramine (Clm.) is considered one of the most effective tricyclic antidepressant drugs. The present study focuses on the ability of the flavonoid extract of tiger nuts to reduce the damage caused by the drug. The study involved 48 male mice weighing 30 g ± 5 and divided into four groups of 12 mice for each group. The control group with no treatment, the G2 group treated with 200 mg/kg of flavonoid extract, and G3 treated with 50 mg of Clm. and the G4 group was treated with 50 mg Clm. + 200 mg/kg of extract. The treatment continues for 40 days. The results showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in FSH, LH, and testosterone T, and in addition, an increase in semen quality and the sperm abnormalities decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in the G2 group, while the G3 group showed a significant (P < 0.01) decrease in hormone levels (FSH, LH, and T) and a decrease in sperm count and motility and an increase in sperm abnormalities compared to the control group. The G4 showed a significant (P < 0.01) increase in FSH, with no significant effect on LH levels, in addition to a decrease in T levels; also, there was an increase in dead sperm with a reduction in sperm motility and an increase in sperm abnormalities compared to the control group. The histological study displays a disruption in spermatogenesis, an interruption in sperm development, dense infiltration of inflammatory cells in the interstitial space between seminiferous tubules, tubular atrophy, and bleeding seen within or around seminiferous tubules in the Clm. group, while the damage is reduced in the G4 group. This indicates that C. esculentus improves testicular and sex hormonal function

Author Biographies

  • Zahraa H. Luiby , Department of Biology, College of Sciences for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

    -

  • Abeer M. Hussain, Department of Biology, College of Sciences for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq.

    -

References

1. Stein DJ, Ruscio AM, Altwaijri Y, Chiu WT, Sampson NA, Aguilar-Gaxiola S, Al-Hamzawi A, Alonso J, Chardoul S, Gureje O, Hu C, Karam EG, McGrath JJ, Navarro-Mateu F, Scott KM, Stagnaro JC, Torres Y, Vladescu C, Wciórka J, Xavier M, Kessler RC. Obsessive-compulsive disorder in the World Mental Health surveys. BMC Med. 2025 Jul 9;23(1):416. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6090427/v1

2. StatPearls. Clomipramine. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541006

3. DrugBank. Clomipramine (DB01242) [Internet].https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB01242

4. Pittenger C, Bloch MH. Pharmacological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2014;37(3):375–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2014.05.006

5. Friedrich ME, Akimova E, Huf W, Konstantinidis A, Papageorgiou K, Winkler D, 5. Drug-induced liver injury during antidepressant treatment : results of AMSP, a drug surveillance program. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2016;19(4):pyv126. https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyv126

6. Devaangam SS, Satyanarayana S, Eswar Kumar K, Vivek B, Velmurugan C, Kumar A. Amantadine on clomipramine-induced sexual dysfunction in rats. Oman Med J. 2011;26(6):404–9. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2011.104

7. Karimi A, Etemadi E. Effect of clomipramine on spermatogenesis and hormones. J Isfahan Med School. 2018;36(481):575–80. https://doi.org/10.22122/jims.v36i481.10015

8. El-Fiky SA, Abou-Zaid FA, Farag IM, Fahmy MA, El-Fiky NM. Genotoxic effect of clomipramine hydrochloride. Asian Pac J Trop Dis. 2016;6(4):321–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2222-1808(15)61038-6

9. Sánchez-Zapata E, Fernández-López J, Pérez-Alvarez AJ. Tiger nut: composition and health. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2012;11(4):366–77. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2012.00211.x

10. Nwakanma A, Ekong M, Ngwuben I, Obumneme C, Idaguko C. Cyperus esculentus protects testis in rats. Int J Med Surg Sci. 2022;9:1–16. https://doi.org/10.32457/ijmss.v9i3.1924

11. Edo GI, Onoharigho FO, Jikah AN, Oloni GO, Samuel PO, Rapheal OA, Ikpekoro O, Akpoghelie PO, Agbo JJ, Ekokotu HA, Ugbune U, Ezekiel GO, Abere GA, Oghroro EEA, Ojulari AE, Okoronkwo KA, Owheruo JO, Akpoghelie EO. Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut): An insight into its bioactive compounds, biological activities, nutritional and health benefits. Food Chem Adv. 2023;3:100511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2023.100511

12. Esteves SC, Miyaoka R, Agarwal A. Sperm retrieval techniques. Int Braz J Urol. 2011;37:570–83. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1677-55382011000400013

13. Agarwal A, Sharma RK, Gupta S, Boitrelle F, Finelli R, Parekh N, Shah R. Sperm vitality and necrozoospermia: diagnosis, management, and results of a global survey of clinical practice. World J Mens Health. 2021;40(2):228. https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.210149

14. Burgstaller SM, Auer KE, Rülicke T. Repeated in vivo sperm collection in mice. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2024;41:2537–46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-024-03201-x

15. Bancroft JD, Gamble M. Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques. 6th ed. London: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier; 2008.

16. SPSS. IBM SPSS Statistics 26 step by step. 16th ed. 2019. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429056765

17. Osibemhe M, Musa S. Aphrodisiac potential of tiger nut powder. Sahel J Life Sci FUDMA. 2024;2:30–8. https://doi.org/10.33003/sajols-2024-0202-05

18. Ofem OE, Udonkang MI, Bassey IE, Okechi OO. Tiger nut improves fertility in rats. Trop J Nat Prod Res. 2023;7(12):4510–7. https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v7i12.4510.26538

19. Mishra R, Nikam A, Hiwarkar J, Nandgude TD, Bayas J, Polshettiwar SA. Flavonoids as potential therapeutics in male reproductive disorders. Future J Pharm Sci. 2024;10(1):100. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-024-00677-3

20. Martin L. Flavonoids and testicular steroidogenesis. Antioxidants. 2020;9(3):237. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9030237

21. Ye RJ, Yang JM, Hai DM, Liu N, Ma L, Lan XB, Niu JG, Zheng P, Yu JQ. Interplay between male reproductive system dysfunction and the therapeutic effect of flavonoids. Fitoterapia. 2020 Nov;147:104756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2020.104756

22. Osawe SO, Farombi EO. Quercetin and rutin ameliorate spermiotoxicity. Andrologia. 2018;50(5):e12981. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.12981

23. Shekar DS, Satyanarayana S, Veeresh Babu P, Vinayak K. Cyproheptadine and clomipramine-induced dysfunction. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2016;5(6):2227–32. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20162436

24. Zirkin BR, Papadopoulos V. Leydig cell formation and function. Biol Reprod. 2018;99(1):101–11. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioy059

25. Solek P, Mytych J, Tabecka-Lonczynska A, Sowa-Kucma M, Koziorowski M. Toxic effect of antidepressants on male reproductive cells. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2021;72(3). https://doi.org/10.26402/jpp.2021.3.06

26. Ogedengbe OO, Bature A, Fafure AA, Kehinde SO, Adekeye AO, Akintayo CO, Ajiboye BO, Adeeyo OA. Evaluation of Testicular Function and Structural Changes of Wistar Rats Following Antiretroviral Exposure: Protective Role of Cyperus Esculentus. Niger J Physiol Sci. 2023 Dec 31;38(2):201-209. https://doi.org/10.54548/njps.v38i2.9

27. Edo GI. Antibacterial and phytochemical analysis of Thevetia peruviana. Nat Resour Hum Health. 2022. https://doi.org/10.53365/nrfhh/146543

28. Hall JE, Hall ME. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. 14th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2020.

29. El-Sheikh SMA, Eleiwa NZ, Khairy GM, Abd El Aziz RM, Metwally MMM, Galal AAA. Effect of sildenafil and clomipramine on tissues of male rats. Andrologia. 2021;53:e13983. https://doi.org/10.1111/and.13983

30. Zhang X, Tang Y, Lu G, Gu J. Quercetin and testicular injury. Nutrients. 2023;15(9):2231. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15092231

Downloads

Published

20-Jul-2026

Issue

Section

Biology

How to Cite

[1]
Luiby , Z.H. and Hussain, A.M. 2026. The Potential Protective Role of Tiger Nut (Cyperus esculentus) Against Clomipramine-Induced Alterations in Sex Hormones and Testicular Tissue in Male Mice. Ibn AL-Haitham Journal For Pure and Applied Sciences. 39, 3 (Jul. 2026), 38–46. DOI:https://doi.org/10.30526/39.3.4319.