ABSTRACT:
Objective: Analysis of shielding potential of bee pollen in rifampicin and isoniazid drugs in combination induced toxicity in testis of SD rats. Materials and Methods: SD rats (180±20 g body weight) were divided into four groups, i.e. group C (Control), group O (Bee pollen 100mg/kg body weight/day orally), group D12 (Rifampicin 100mg/kg body weight/day and isoniazid 50mg/kg body weight/day orally), group D12O (rifampicin 100mg/kg body weight, isoniazid 50 mg/kg body/day and bee pollen 100mg/kg body orally) under hygienic conditions. Results: Aqueous extract of bee pollen (100 mg/kg body weight) when fed orally showed normal level of MDA, SOD, GR, GPx, GST, CAT and GSH representing no harmful effect caused by bee pollen in the rats. The anti-tuberculosis drugs (rifampicin and isoniazid in combination) and bee pollen treated groups showed significant decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation while the activity of SOD, GR, GPx, GST, CAT and GSH were elevated representing reduced oxidative stress in the drug treated with bee pollen groups along with near normal histological alterations in testis of rat when compared with drug treated rats. Conclusion: Bee pollen has shown the protective effect against damage and oxidative stress induced by anti-tuberculosis drugs (rifampicin and isoniazid in combination) in rat testis.