Protective Effect of Fumaria parviflora Extract on Oxidative Stress and Testis Tissue Damage in Diabetic Rats Introduction According to an estimation in 2010, there are 48.5 million infertile couples in the world among whom males include 40%-50% of the cases. For example, 2% of men exhibit unusual sperm parameters (1,2). Diabetes is considered as one of the reasons which causes fertility problems among this population. In addition, diabetes results in hyperglycemia because of the problems in insulin function and/or production. Further, hyperglycemia disrupts homeostasis in the body and oxidative stress is one of the complications created accordingly (3). Then, oxidation-reduction balance disrupts due to an increase in reactive oxygen species levels and free radicals and thus cellular activities, especially sperm production disrupt as well (4-6). In addition, diabetes makes failures in gonadal hormones production such as luteinizing, follicle- stimulating, and testosterone hormones, and eventually, the spermatogenesis process will be ruined (7). Using antioxidant and free radical scavenger supplementations can have positive effects on spermatogenesis (8, 9). Fumaria parviflora lam (Fumarioideae) is one of the plants with different antioxidant components. It is an annual plant which grows in a variety of areas such as Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, India, as well as different parts of South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. “Shahtareh” is another name of this plant in Iran. In Iranian traditional medicine, Fumaria parviflora is used as an agent against liver diseases, dermatological disorders, including diuretic, expectorant, acne, anti-bronchite, scabies, antipyretic, antiscorbite, eczema, diaphoretic and the like (10-12). Studies about F. parviflora and other species of fumaria plants revealed protective and antioxidative effects of these plants against CCl4 model of hepatotoxicity. For example, fumaria parviflora exhibited positive effects in paracetamol hepatotoxicity (13). Another study in 2007 demonstrated that F. parviflora ethanolic extract has anti- inflammatory, antinociceptive, and protective effects (14). Furthermore, F. parviflora is confirmed to have positive and favorable effects on the sperm production process in male rats (15). Phytochemical assess for different fumaria plants shows that these plants, especially F. parviflora have various components such as protropine, cryptopine, sinactine, stylopine, bicuculline, adlumine, parfumine, fumariline, fumarophycine, fumaritine, dihydrofumariline, perfumidine, and dihydrosanguirine (16). Generally, this study was conducted to survey the Abstract Objectives: In this experimental research, a rat model was used to investigate the protective effect of Fumaria parviflora on oxidative stress and testis tissue damage in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: To this end, a total of 28 male Wistar rats were utilized and randomly divided into 4 groups including control group (G1), diabetic control group (G2, DC), diabetic treated with F. parviflora extract (G3), and healthy group (G4) that received F. parviflora extract. In addition, the therapy lasted for 56 days. Then, the blood levels of some markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes, as well as sperm parameters such as concentration, motility, and morphology were assayed based on the aim of the study. Results: The histological examination showed a negative change in the DC group, and they were included in the treated groups. The plasma levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly reduced in the DC group while the malondialdehyde (MDA) level enhanced the duration of diabetes. As regards the sperm parameters, the results demonstrated a significant reduction in the DC group whereas treatment with FP extract led to an increase in the quality of sperm. Conclusions: Based on the results of the present research, the F. parviflora extract has a positive role in protecting the testis tissue and sperm quality against oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Keywords: Diabetes, Fumaria parviflora, Testis, Sperm parameters, Oxidative stress Majid Shokoohi 1 ID , Mohammad Sadegh Gholami Farashah 1 , Arash Khaki 1* ID , Amir Afshin Khaki 1 , Elaheh Ouladsahebmadarek 1 , Reza Aref Nezhad 3 Open Access Original Article Crescent Journal of Medical and Biological Sciences Received 17 January 2019, Accepted 21 May 2019, Available online 5 June 2019 1 Women’s Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 2 Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. 3 Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. *Corresponding Author: Arash Khaki, Tel: +989143332565, Email: arashkhaki@yahoo.com http://www.cjmb.org eISSN 2148-9696 Vol. 6, No. 3, July 2019, 355–360