Investigation of the effect of naringenin on oxidative stress‐related alterations in testis of hydrogen peroxide‐administered rats

Testis tissue is prone to oxidation because its plasma membrane contains many polyunsaturated fatty acids. Naringenin is a plant‐derived natural flavonoid. We investigated the possible ameliorative role of naringenin on the hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 )‐induced testicular damage in Wistar rats. Animals received 12 mg/kg H 2 O 2 by intraperitoneal injection, and 50 mg/kg naringenin via orogastric gavage for 4 weeks. In the H 2 O 2 group, the testis malondialdehyde level increased, while the amount of reduced glutathione, glutathione transferase activities, and the testis weight decreased. There were severe testicular damages in the H 2 O 2 group otherwise their grade were less in the naringenin + H 2 O 2 group. However, the serum testosterone concentrations decreased in both the H 2 O 2 and the naringenin + H 2 O 2 groups. The testicular zinc and calcium levels reduced in the H 2 O 2 ‐treated rats. In conclusion, the administration of H 2 O 2 caused oxidative stress in the testes and naringenin supplementation decreased the H 2 O 2 ‐induced effects, except for changes in testosterone levels.