Comparative assessment of the extracts of different plantain parts to ameliorate FeSO4-induced oxidative injury in rat testes ex vivo.

Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) has several bioactive components responsible for its pharmacological effects. The present study investigated the comparative antioxidative potential of different plantain part extracts: plantain whole fruit extract (PWFE), plantain pulp extract (PPPE), and plantain peel extract (PPLE) on FeSO₄-induced oxidative stress in isolated rat testes. Oxidative imbalance was induced in the rat testes ex vivo by incubating testis homogenate with 0.1 mM ferrous sulphate (FeSO₄) in the presence or absence of plantain extracts at different concentrations (30, 60, 120, and 240 µg/mL) for 30 min at 37 °C. FeSO₄ significantly reduced the levels of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH), while elevating the level of oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, FeSO₄ raised the levels of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, FeSO₄ significantly elevated the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (vLDL), but reduced the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). However, PWFE, PPPE, and PPLE improved FeSO₄-induced oxidative stress and lipid profiling. In particular, the extracts reduced the cellular concentrations of MDA, NO, AChE, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and vLDL but elevated the levels of GSH, SOD, CAT, and HDL. The results demonstrate the capacity of the different parts of plantain to attenuate FeSO₄-induced oxidative injury in rat testes ex vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]