Antioxidant effects of aqueous fruit extract of Ziziphus jujuba on ethanol-induced oxidative stress in the rat testes

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant effects of aqueous fruit extract of Ziziphus jujuba on ethanol-induced oxidative stress and to examine its protective effects on sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity of male Wistar rats. Adult male rats (n = 28) were divided into four equal groups: the first group served as untreated controls, the second group of rats was given ethanol (4 g/kg), and group 3 received aqueous fruit extract of Z. jujuba (200 mg/kg). The final group of rats were supplemented by oral ingestion of ethanol (4 g/kg), which was preceded 60 min earlier by an oral administration of Z. jujuba extract (200 mg/kg). Fruit extract of Z. jujuba could prevent the reduction of concentration, motility and plasma membrane integrity of the sperm in treated rats with Z. jujuba extract plus ethanol (P<0.05). Glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities significantly increased in the animals ingested with Z. jujuba extract prior to ethanol compared to the ethanol group. Decrease of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level was statistically significant in the animals that ingested the fruit extract of Z. jujuba prior to ethanol compared to the ethanol group (P<0.05). Our findings suggest that aqueous fruit extract of Z. jujuba possesses beneficial effects on ethanol-induced sperm toxicity, subsequently enhancing sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity.