Protective Role of Ficus carica Extract Against Hepato-Testicular Side Effects and Genotoxicity Induced by Cisplatin

Objective: The present work investigated the protective effect of Ficus carica (common fig) leaves methanol extract against genotoxicity and testicular damage of cisplatin (CP) and identified some of its active ingredients. Methods: Seven main groups were investigated as follows: I. control negative, II. Control plant (600 mg/kg fig, orally), III, IV. Control positive (treated i.p with 10 and 15 mg/kg CP), V-VII. groups treated with fig (200, 400 and 600 mg/ kg) + Cisplatin (15 mg/kg). Results: Ficus carica alleviated the destructive effects of CP in the testis, liver and bone marrow due to the presence of high amount of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Also it has a normal effect in the tested parameters as compared with the control negative. Chromatographic investigation resulted in the identification of 6 compounds: Catechin, Luteolin-8-C-β-D glucopyranoside, Quercetin, Quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, Chlorogenic acid and Kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. In bone marrow cisplatin induced significant percentage of chromosome abnormalities, micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes and toxicity to cells. On the contrary the two tested doses of cisplatin had a normal effect on spermatocyte chromosomes (germ cells). The dose 15 mg/kg induced an overexpression of the liver genes NF-kB and iNOS as indicated by real-time PCR. Different forms of histopathological alterations and instigation of the expression of TNF-α gene in the testis were detected after CP treatment. Conclusion: Ficus carica is a promising candidate rich in many bioactive constituents and can be used in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs to alleviate their destructive effects.