Omayma Abidi^1,2*, Ameni Smaoui³ and Houcine Selmi⁴

¹Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
²Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, National School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet Ariana, Tunisia
³Laboratory of Plant Productivity and Environmental Constraints, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
⁴Laboratory of Sylvo-Pastorales Ressources, Sylvo-Pastoral Institut of Tabarka, University of Jendouba, Tabarka, Tunisia

*Corresponding Author: Omayma Abidi, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar and Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology, National School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet Ariana, Tunisia.

Received: June 20, 2025; Published: July 07, 2025

Abstract

Antihormonal therapy with tamoxifen (TAM), although standard in breast cancer management, is increasingly implicated in male reproductive toxicity through oxidative stress driven mechanisms. The Mediterranean shrub Pistacia lentiscus is rich in phenolic antioxidants with well documented free radical scavenging activity, yet its capacity to counter TAM induced gonadotoxicity has not been systematically explored.

To determine whether a methanolic extract of P. lentiscus (PL ME) can mitigate functional and biochemical indices of reproductive damage elicited by subacute TAM exposure in male mice. Adult Swiss albino males (8–10 weeks, 25–30 g) were randomized (n = 10/group) to four regimens for 20 days: (i) Control, (ii) TAM (30 mg kg⁻¹ p.o.), (iii) PL ME (1g kg⁻¹ p.o.), and (iv) TAM + PL ME (co treatment). Antiradical potency of PL ME was first confirmed by DPPH assay (IC₅₀ = 107 μg mL⁻¹). Post treatment, semen quality (concentration, motility, viability, morphology) was analyzed, together with pro oxidant markers: malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and protein thiols ( SH) and also antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in testis and epididymis.

TAM produced a marked decline in sperm concentration (40 %), motility (42 %), and viability ( 31%) while elevating head ( +12 %) and tail ( +20 %) deformities (p < 0.05). Concomitantly, testicular/epididymal MDA and H₂O₂ rose 2.3 to 2.8 fold, with a 48 % drop in SH. Antioxidant enzymes were paradoxically up regulated (SOD +46 %, CAT +72 %, GPx +88 %), indicating a compensatory yet insufficient response. Co administration of PL ME normalized seminal parameters (all p > 0.05 vs. control) and restored oxidative balance: MDA, H₂O₂, and SH returned to baseline, while SOD, CAT, and GPx activities were realigned within physiological ranges.

Pistacia lentiscus methanolic extract confers substantive protection against TAM induced male reprotoxicity by quenching lipid peroxidation, lowering peroxide burden, preserving thiol groups, and recalibrating endogenous antioxidant defenses. These findings highlight PL ME as a promising phytotherapeutic adjunct for safeguarding male fertility during antihormonal breast cancer therapy.

Keywords: Bio-Compounds; Pistacia lentiscus; Antioxidant; Repro-Toxicity; Hormonal Therapy of Breast Cancer, Male Fertility

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Citation

Citation: Omayma Abidi., et al. “Can Pistacia lentiscus Mitigate Male Reproductive Toxicity Induced by Antihormonal Therapy for Breast Cancer?".Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 9.8 (2025): 14-22.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Omayma Abidi., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.