Effect of fenugreek seed extract on carbendaziminhibited spermatogenesis in albino rats

Carbendazim is a carbamate fungicide used in control of various fungalpathogens.Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.) is a leguminous plant cultivated inseveral Asian and African countries and its seeds are used as herbal medicine. In the presentwork the effect of aqueous extract of fenugreek seeds on carbendazim-induced testicular toxicityin albino rats was studied. Treating rats with carbendazim induced significant decrease in testisweights, diameters and germinal epithelial heights of the seminiferous tubules. Histologicalresults revealed degeneration of seminiferous tubules and reduction of spermatogenic cells.Moreover, carbendazim caused elevation of testicular malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced theactivity of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Animalstreated with carbendazim and fenugreek showed improvement in the histomorphological andhistopathological changes observed in animals treated with carbendazim. In addition fenugreektreatment leads to a significant decrease in the level of MDA and increase in the activity of SODand CAT. It is concluded that fenugreek extract can improve the testicular toxicity ofcarbendazim and this effect may be attributed to its antioxidant properties.