Ameliorating potential of combined treatment of quercetin and curcumin against cadmium-induced testicular damage in rats

Effects of combined oral administration of quercetin (50 mg/kg) and curcumin (100 mg/kg) against cadmium (Cd)-induced (100 ppm in drinking water) oxidative damage to testes along with alterations in sperm parameters of rats were investigated in the study. Cd exposure didn't significantly alter the oxidative stress parameters except for higher malondialdehyde (MDA) level in testicular tissue and plasma nitric oxide level. Quercetin treatment was able to increase the catalase (CAT) activity and curcumin reduced the plasma nitric oxide level. Quercetin along with curcumin resulted in the lowest level of MDA and significantly improved cadmium-induced alteration of total epididymal sperm count, epididymal sperm motility and total epididymal live sperm count compared to individual treatment. As compared to the individual treatment, the combination of quercetin and curcumin showed better protective effect against Cd-induced histological changes in testes of rats.