Phytochemical characterization, molecular docking, and protective efficacy of Cleome droserifolia against cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity

Journal Article

2026

Published in: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2026.122017

Ethnopharmacological relevance: 

Cleome droserifolia (CD) has been employed traditionally by the Egyptians inhabiting desert for hyperglycemia treatment. 

Aim of the study: 

We aimed to evaluate the capability of CD to lessen the detrimental consequences of cisplatin (CP) on testis. 

Methods: 

CD phytoconstituents were studied by LC-ESI-MS/MS. The in vivo study involved four groups of forty male rats. Group I had a normal saline intraperitoneal (IP) injection daily; groups II, III, and IV had a single IP injection of 7 mg/kg of CP. Groups III and IV were orally administered 100 and 200 mg/kg of CD, respectively. They were treated daily for 10 days, and a single dose of IP injection of CP was taken on the third day. 

Results: 

The LC-ESI-MS/MS exposed presence of 33 different compounds in CD. Also, CD at 200 mg/kg considerably reestablished the testicular weight loss and serum testosterone in CP-treated rats. Treatment with CD improved the antioxidant capabilities via downregulating malondialdehyde and increasing catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity as well as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 immunostaining. It exerted a significant anti-inflammatory action via its decreasing effect on nuclear factor kappa beta immunostaining, and testicular level of tumor necrosis factor-α. Moreover, it exhibited an anti-apoptotic effect by downregulation of p53 and caspase-3, besides enhancing the B-cell lymphoma 2 immunostaining. In addition, molecular docking studies revealed that the major phytochemicals in CD had favorable binding affinities to the key proteins of apoptosis. 

Conclusion: 

CD demonstrated promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. 

• Publisher Name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology