{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]],"date-time":"2026-05-06T06:38:16Z","timestamp":1778049496873,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,16]],"date-time":"2024-04-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1713225600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"University of Life Sciences \u201dRegele Mihai I\u201d\u2014Project for financing excellence in CDI","award":["PFE\/2024"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PFE\/2024"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Aluminum, a contentious trace element found in the environment, has been demonstrated to have harmful effects on both humans and animals. In contrast, Sempervivum tectorum, an evergreen plant, has been found to offer numerous beneficial effects for both humans and animals. Therefore, this study aims to assess the protective effect of S. tectorum on certain reproductive biomarkers in male rats exposed to aluminum. Thirty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: NTC (no-treatment control) received distilled water; NC (negative control) received drinking water containing 1 mg\/L aluminum sulfate (AS); E1 received 1 mg\/L AS along with an 8% S. tectorum extract; PC (positive control) received only 8% S. tectorum extract; E2 received 1 mg\/L AS for three months followed by 8% extract for one month. The study analyzed testosterone, LH, FSH, body weight, and the histological structure of the testis, epididymis, and prostate, as well as the levels of zinc, manganese, copper, and iron in these organs. Significant decreases in body weight, testis, and epididymis size were observed in the aluminum-exposed groups compared to the control, whereas these decreases were not significant in the S. tectorum-treated groups compared to the control. Aluminum exposure led to significant decreases in testosterone and LH levels, with FSH levels showing a nonsignificant decrease in males, which were mitigated significantly by the administration of the plant extract. Histological analysis revealed alterations in the testis, epididymis, and prostate of the AS-exposed groups, including necrosis of seminiferous tubule epithelium and Leydig cells in the testis, and basal epithelial necrosis in the epididymis and prostate. Aluminum levels increased in all organs studied, while levels of zinc, copper, iron, and manganese decreased, showing a negative and significant correlation with aluminum levels. The aqueous extract of S. tectorum demonstrated a protective effect on certain studied biomarkers in male rats affected by aluminum exposure.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14081196","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,17]],"date-time":"2024-04-17T07:54:36Z","timestamp":1713340476000},"page":"1196","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Effect of Sempervivum tectorum Extract on Some Biomarkers of Reproductive Function and Levels of Some Trace Elements in Male Rats Exposed to Aluminum"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2907-4233","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Florin","family":"Muselin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"},{"name":"Working Group for Xenobiochemistry, Romanian Academy-Branch, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Eugenia","family":"Dumitrescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alexandru O.","family":"Doma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Diana Maria","family":"Degi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5859-5057","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Janos","family":"Degi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jelena","family":"Savici","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Catalin Cicerone","family":"Grigorescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Bucharest, Titu Maiorescu University, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Diana","family":"Brezovan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2917-8051","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ioana","family":"Gencia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Timisoara, University of Medicine and Pharmacy \u201dVictor Babe\u0219\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5420-1516","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Romeo T.","family":"Cristina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1693","DOI":"10.1177\/0748233715578035","article-title":"Effects of aluminium chloride on the serum protein, bilirubin and hepatic trace elements in chickens","volume":"32","author":"Wang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Toxicol. Ind. Health"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1080\/10408444.2020.1801575","article-title":"Aluminum reproductive toxicity: A summary and interpretation of scientific reports","volume":"50","author":"Yokel","year":"2020","journal-title":"Crit. Rev. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1240","DOI":"10.3906\/sag-1501-101","article-title":"The consequences of aluminium intake on reproductive function in male rats: A three-generation study","volume":"46","author":"Muselin","year":"2016","journal-title":"Turk. J. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1548","DOI":"10.1093\/clinchem\/45.9.1548","article-title":"Aluminum, iron, lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, chromium, magnesium, strontium, and calcium content in bone of end-stage renal failure patients","volume":"45","author":"Couttenye","year":"1999","journal-title":"Clin. Chem."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.3233\/JAD-2006-102-315","article-title":"Aluminum and other metals in Alzheimer\u2019s disease: A review of potential therapy with chelating agents","volume":"10","author":"Domingo","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Alzheimers Dis."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"346","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tips.2009.05.002","article-title":"Alzheimer\u2019s disease, metal ions and metal homeostatic therapy","volume":"30","author":"Zatta","year":"2009","journal-title":"Trends Pharmacol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1006\/faat.1995.1038","article-title":"Reproductive toxicology of aluminum in male mice","volume":"25","author":"Llobet","year":"1995","journal-title":"Fundam. Appl. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1016\/j.etap.2004.11.007","article-title":"The influence of aluminum exposure on male reproduction and offspring in mice","volume":"20","author":"Guo","year":"2005","journal-title":"Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1016\/j.etap.2008.10.001","article-title":"Aluminum accumulation induced testicular oxidative stress and altered selenium in mice","volume":"27","author":"Guo","year":"2009","journal-title":"Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tox.2007.07.011","article-title":"An in vitro study on reproductive toxicity of aluminum chloride on rabbit sperm: The protective role of some antioxidants","volume":"239","author":"Yousef","year":"2007","journal-title":"Toxicology"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.5935\/1518-0557.20200082","article-title":"Protective effects of aloe vera gel (aloe baberdensis Miller) on aluminum chloride-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats","volume":"25","author":"Akinola","year":"2021","journal-title":"JBRA Assist. Reprod."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1002\/tox.23398","article-title":"Subacute exposure to aluminum chloride causes prolonged morphological insults in the ventral male prostate and in the female prostate of adult gerbils","volume":"37","author":"Silva","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5335","DOI":"10.1007\/s12011-023-03656-6","article-title":"N-Acetylcysteine May Regulate Altered Meteorin-Like Levels in Testicular Tissue due to Aluminum Exposure","volume":"201","author":"Kaya","year":"2023","journal-title":"Biol. Trace Elem. Res."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"1122","article-title":"Histological and Functional Effect of Aluminium on Male Reproductive System","volume":"6","author":"Berihu","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Pharma Sci. Res."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.2478\/intox-2019-0007","article-title":"Aluminium toxicosis: A review of toxic actions and effects","volume":"12","author":"Igbokwe","year":"2019","journal-title":"Interdiscip. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1807","DOI":"10.1039\/C3EM00374D","article-title":"Human exposure to aluminium","volume":"15","author":"Exley","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Sci. Process. Impacts"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.4314\/tjpr.v13i2.2","article-title":"Protective Effects of Aqueous Extract of Sempervivum tectorum L. (Crassulaceae) on Aluminium-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Blood","volume":"13","author":"Muselin","year":"2014","journal-title":"Trop. J. Pharm. Res."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gentscheva, G., Karadjova, I., Minkova, S., Nikolova, K., Andonova, V., Petkova, N., and Milkova-Tomova, I. (2021). Optical Properties and Antioxidant Activity of Water-Ethanolic Extracts from Sempervivum tectorum L. from Bulgaria. Horticulturae, 7.","DOI":"10.3390\/horticulturae7120520"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"256","DOI":"10.3797\/scipharm.oephg.21.PO-57","article-title":"Investigation of Flavonoids Presence in Houseleek, Sempervivum tectorum L.","volume":"77","author":"Duric","year":"2009","journal-title":"Sci. Pharm."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"524","DOI":"10.1002\/pca.2844","article-title":"Wound healing activity and phytochemical screening of purified fractions of Sempervivum tectorum L. leaves on HCT 116","volume":"30","author":"Cattaneo","year":"2019","journal-title":"Phytochem. Anal."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpba.2012.06.017","article-title":"Characterization of phenolic compounds and antinociceptive activity of Sempervivum tectorum L. leaf juice","volume":"70","author":"Alberti","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"464082","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chroma.2023.464082","article-title":"Assessing radical scavenging capacity of Sempervivum tectorum L. leaf extracts: An integrated high-performance thin-layer chromatography\/in silico\/chemometrics approach","volume":"1703","author":"Jankov","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Chromatogr. A"},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"469","article-title":"Evaluation of Radical Scavenging Activity of Sempervivum tectorum and Corylus avellana Extracts with Different Phenolic Composition","volume":"11","author":"Alberti","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nat. Prod. Commun."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"(2022, February 20). Directive 2010\/63\/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes. Available online: https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/LexUriServ\/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:276:0033:0079:en:PDF."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"National Research Council, Institute of Laboratory Animal Research (NRC) (2022, May 20). Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Available online: https:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/grants\/olaw\/guide-for-the-care-and-use-oflaboratory-animals.pdf."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jinorgbio.2017.04.016","article-title":"Aluminum chloride caused liver dysfunction and mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder in rat","volume":"174","author":"Xu","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Inorg. Biochem."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"5906","article-title":"Some Histological and Physiological Effects of Aluminum Chloride on Some Reproductive Organs of Male Albino Mice (Musmusculus)","volume":"25","author":"Raheem","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann. Rom. Soc. Cell Biol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"314","DOI":"10.1007\/s12011-017-1139-3","article-title":"How Bad Is Aluminum Exposure to Reproductive Parameters in Rats?","volume":"183","author":"Mouro","year":"2018","journal-title":"Biol. Trace Elem. Res."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1038\/ncpendmet1050","article-title":"Testosterone and ill-health in aging men","volume":"5","author":"Yeap","year":"2009","journal-title":"Nat. Clin. Pract. Endocrinol. Metab."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1050","DOI":"10.1007\/s12011-011-9098-6","article-title":"Effect of aluminium exposure on serum sex hormones and androgen receptors expression in male rats","volume":"144","author":"Sun","year":"2011","journal-title":"Biol. Trace Elem. Res."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1016\/j.etap.2004.02.009","article-title":"Aluminum-induced suppression of testosterone through nitric oxide production in male mice","volume":"19","author":"Guo","year":"2005","journal-title":"Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1168","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2009.02.006","article-title":"Propolis protection from reproductive toxicity caused by aluminium chloride in male rats","volume":"47","author":"Yousef","year":"2009","journal-title":"Food Chem. Toxicol."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"R111","DOI":"10.1530\/REP-17-0064","article-title":"Steroidogenesis in Leydig cells: Effects of aging and environmental factors","volume":"154","author":"Wang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Reproduction"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"36","DOI":"10.1016\/j.lfs.2014.02.035","article-title":"Effects of sub-chronic aluminum chloride on spermatogenesis and testicular enzymatic activity in male rats","volume":"102","author":"Zhu","year":"2014","journal-title":"Life Sci."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mce.2016.10.017","article-title":"Recent advances on the stimulatory effects of metals in breast cancer","volume":"457","author":"Lappano","year":"2017","journal-title":"Mol. Cell. Endocrinol."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"3","article-title":"Reproductive toxicity of aluminum oxide nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanoparticles in male rats","volume":"1","author":"Yousef","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nanoparticle"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"335","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1439-0531.2011.01878.x","article-title":"Role of ginger against the reproductive toxicity of aluminium chloride in albino male rats","volume":"47","author":"Moselhy","year":"2012","journal-title":"Reprod. Domest. Anim."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"410","DOI":"10.3923\/jms.2008.410.414","article-title":"Effect of aluminium chloride injection in lateral ventricle on serum gonadotropines, testosterone and spermatogenesis in rats","volume":"8","author":"Shahraki","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Med. Sci."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"224","article-title":"Evaluation of reproductive and fertility toxic potential of aluminum chloride on adult male mice","volume":"4","author":"Mayyas","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Anim. Vet. Adv."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Martinez, C.S., Uranga-Ocio, J.A., Pe\u00e7anha, F.M., Vassallo, D.V., Exley, C., Miguel-Castro, M., and Wiggers, G.A. (2022). Dietary Egg White Hydrolysate Prevents Male Reproductive Dysfunction after Long-Term Exposure to Aluminum in Rats. Metabolites, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/metabo12121188"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1319","DOI":"10.3109\/10715762.2015.1069290","article-title":"Coenzyme Q10 and fish oil synergistically alleviate aluminum chloride-induced suppression of testicular steroidogenesis and antioxidant defense","volume":"49","author":"Mohammad","year":"2015","journal-title":"Free Radic. Res."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.4103\/jhrs.jhrs_190_20","article-title":"Observable Protective Activities of Quercetin on Aluminum Chloride-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Adult Male Wistar Rat","volume":"14","author":"Olanrewaju","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Hum. Reprod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"7","article-title":"Protective effects of Citrullus lanatus seed ethanol extract on aluminum chloride-induced testosterone, testicular and hematological changes in an experimental male rat model","volume":"12","author":"Odo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Vet. Res. Forum"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"409","DOI":"10.1007\/s10522-006-9056-4","article-title":"NF-kappaB, AP-1, Zinc-deficiency and aging","volume":"7","author":"Herbein","year":"2006","journal-title":"Biogerontology"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.4103\/0973-1296.103646","article-title":"Zinc administration modulates radiation-induced oxidative injury in lens of rat","volume":"8","author":"Taysi","year":"2012","journal-title":"Pharmacogn. Mag."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1080\/10715760000300081","article-title":"Iron-induced oxidative DNA damage in rat sperm cells in vivo and in vitro","volume":"32","author":"Wellejus","year":"2000","journal-title":"Free Radic. Res."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/14\/8\/1196\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T14:28:47Z","timestamp":1760106527000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/14\/8\/1196"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,16]]},"references-count":46,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,4]]}},"alternative-id":["ani14081196"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani14081196","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,4,16]]}}}