A Seghatoleslam - Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Z Khoshdel - Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
R Ghafouri - Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Sh Fakher - Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
M Molaei - Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
M Namavari - Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran
F Zal - Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

The role of oxidative stress in female fertility is a compelling area for research. According to traditional medicine, Cichorium intybus, known as Kasni, is believed to improve fertility. For this purpose, the effects of C. intybus distillate (CI) on blood antioxidant status were assessed in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl۴)-induced toxicity. The rats were assigned to four experimental groups of Control, CI, CCl۴, and CI+CCl۴۱۰ (n=۱۰ in each group). The level of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase (CAT), as well as lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione (GSH) level, were measured in serum samples. In the second part of the study, the antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition of the hydrodistillate of C. intybus aerial parts were determined by DPPH radical scavenging and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, respectively. The administration of CCl۴ decreased the enzyme activities of GPx, GR, and CAT which were significantly ameliorated after CI administration. The decreased level of serum GSH following CCl۴ administration was not considerably elevated in the CI+CCl۴ group. Furthermore, the level of malondialdehyde in the serum of CI+CCl۴ rats was decreased, compared to the CCl۴ group. The main compositions of the essential oil from the C. intybus distillate were the antioxidants of Pulegone (۸.۱۰%), Piperitenone (۷.۶۸%), dihydroactinidiolide (۵.۰%), and carvone (۴.۱۸%). The antioxidant activity of the distillate was obtained at ۷۵µg/l using the DPPH (۲,۲-diphenyl-۱-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) test. In general, the results of the present study demonstrated that C. intybus distillate, as a safe herbal remedy, can attenuate CCl۴-induced oxidative damages via boosting the endogenous antioxidant defense system.

Chicory, catalase, Glutathione, malondialdehyde, Mass spectrometry