Investigating the Effect of Pistachio Pericarp Extract on the Level of Oxidative Stress and Structural Changes of the Uterus of Female Mice Exposed to Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Mehrnoosh Mehrabian (MD)¹, Soudeh Khanamani Falahati-pour (PhD)², Arezoo khoradmehr (MSc)³, Faezeh Ebrahimi (MD)⁴, Erfan Shahabinejad (MD)^4,5, Amir Rahnama (MD)^6,7, Soheila Pourmasumi (PhD)^8,9*

¹ Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

² Pistachio Safety Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

³ The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, the Persian Gulf Biomedical Research Sciences Center Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

⁴ Student Research Committee, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

⁵ USERN Office, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

⁶ Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

⁷ Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

⁸ Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

⁹ Clinical Research Development Unit (CRDU), Ali-Ibn Abi-Talib Hospital, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran

Received: 11.03.2024  Accepted: 23.05.2024

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study investigates the potential of pistachio pericarp extract to mitigate TiO2-induced uterine damage and oxidative stress in mice, addressing concerns arising from public exposure to titanium dioxide in food and cosmetics.

Materials and Methods: Forty-eight female mice were divided into six groups: a control, a TiO2 group (10 mg/kg/day), three TiO2-exposed groups treated with pistachio pericarp extract (20, 80, and 160 mg/kg/day), and a pistachio pericarp extract group (80 mg/kg/day). On day 28, uteri were dissected, weighed, and fixed for histomorphometry. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to assess uterine thickness and diameter. A portion of the uterine tissue was used to evaluate oxidative stress parameters and apoptotic cells.

Results: Compared to the control group, the TiO2 group exhibited a significant increase in malondialdehyde (p<0.001), a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (p<0.001), and a reduction in endometrial thickness (p<0.001). Uterine diameter was also significantly reduced in the TiO2 group compared to both the control and pistachio groups (p<0.001).

Conclusion: TiO2 can impair fertility by causing oxidative stress and damaging uterine tissue. Treatment with pistachio pericarp extract in mice exposed to TiO2 has been shown to improve uterine tissue and oxidative stress parameters.

►Please cite this article as follows:

Mehrabian M, Falahati-pour SK, khoradmehr A, Ebrahimi F, Shahabinejad E, Rahnama A, Pourmasumi S. Investigating the effect of pistachio pericarp extract on the level of oxidative stress and structural changes of the uterus of female mice exposed to titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Pistachio and Health Journal. 2024;7(1-2):27-39.