The Activity of Spinacia oleracea Extract on Testicular Tissue, Antioxidant Enzymes, and Malondialdehyde in Male Albino Rats

Abstract Background: In a new world, we are constantly exposed to environmental and natural stimuli that can lead to oxidative stress. Antioxidant enzymes and molecules help the human body eliminate reactive oxygen species and prevent oxidative damage. Green leafy vegetables such as Spinacia oleracea are a rich and well-studied source of antioxidant nutritional molecules. Objective: The research aims to study the effect of the medium effective dose (MED 50 : 58 mg/kg body weight) of the leaf extract on testicular tissue, antioxidant enzymes, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in male albino rats. Materials and Methods: About 20 healthy male rats were separated into two groups, each containing ten male adult rats. The first group, the control group, was treated orally with distilled water. The second group was treated orally with 58 mg/kg body weight of phenolic extract of spinach leaves for 60 days. Results: The testicular sections from the study’s animals revealed that the control groups (left and right) displayed normal histology. In contrast, the treated groups (left and right) exhibited mature sperm cells within the seminiferous tubule lumens. A significant increase at P value < 0.05 in the concentration of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase), also a significant increase in MDA concentration when compared to the control group. Conclusion: The findings of our study show that spinach extract could be a source of natural antioxidants due to its clear effect on testicular tissue and oxidation enzymes.