Baicalin Mitigates Propiconazole-Induced Ovarian Toxicity in Female Albino Rats: Focus on Steroidogenesis, Oxidative Stress, and Apoptosis

Abstract

Background: Propiconazole has potential toxic health effects on humans, which makes it an issue of concern to public health. Baicalin is a natural flavonoid that has antioxidant capabilities.
Aim: The purpose of this research was to look into the mitigating role of Baicalin against the toxic effects of Propiconazole in the ovarian tissues of female albino rats.
Methods: The research has been performed on thirty-five female rats that were equally assigned into five groups, seven animals each. Negative control group: Each rat was given just a regular diet and water; Positive control (DMSO) (vehicle for both Baicalin and Propiconazole); Baicalin group: (50 mg/kg/day); Propiconazole group: (75 mg/kg/day); Propiconazole + Baicalin group: Each rat received Propiconazole and Baicalin at the same mentioned doses. All therapies were administered by oral gavage once per day for four weeks. Upon completion of the experiment, the following markers were measured: levels of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in serum; oxidative stress biomarkers: ovarian tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx); serum inflammatory indicators: tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB); and gene expression of newborn ovary homeobox (NOBOX), steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR), Caspase-3, and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) in the ovarian tissues. A histopathological study by H&E, as well as immunohistochemical staining for detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and tumor protein p53 (P53), was done.
Results: Propiconazole exposure resulted in hormonal and structural disruption of ovarian tissue, redox imbalance, inflammation, down-regulation of NOBOX, StAR, and Bcl-2, and up-regulation of Caspase-3, besides weak immunoreactivity of PCNA and strong immunoreactivity of p53. Baicalin co-administration led to structural and hormonal improvement, mitigation of redox imbalance, anti-inflammatory effects, up-regulation of NOBOX and StAR, and anti-apoptotic effects. Conclusion: Administration of Baicalin produced partial improvement of ovarian function and structure through anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant capabilities against Propiconazole-prompted ovarian toxicity.