Lead acetate impairs testicular function by enhancing testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis. Cyperus esculentus possesses antioxidants and has shown great improvement of testicular function. This study investigated the protective effect of hydro–ethanolic extract of Cyperus esculentus on lead acetate–induced testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats.

Twenty–five male Wistar rats (180–195 g) were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 5) namely: Normal control (NC), Lead control (PbC) (20 mg/kg b.w. i.p.), C. esculentus-treated (CE) (500 mg/kg b.w p.o.), Pb + CE(500) (20 mg/kg of lead and 500 mg/kg of extract) and Pb + CE(1000) (20 mg/kg of lead and 1000 mg/kg of extract). Administration lasted for 21 days.

Sperm count, motility, viability, serum testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone, Johnsen’s score, Leydig cell count, Sertoli cell count, testicular testosterone, B–cell lymphoma protein–2 (Bcl–2), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450 A1, 3β–hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD), 17β–HSD, enzymatic antioxidant activities and total antioxidant capacity were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in PbC compared with NC. These parameters however increased significantly (p < 0.05) in Pb + CE(500) and Pb + CE(1000) compared with PbC. Lead acetate upregulated (p < 0.05) testicular malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, glucose, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, C–reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor–α, interleukin (IL)–6, IL–1β, Bcl–2 associated X (Bax), Bax/Bcl–2 and cleaved caspase–3 levels. All these parameters were downregulated (p < 0.05) in Pb + CE(500) and Pb + CE(1000) in comparison with PbC.

C. esculentus exhibited a dose–dependent mitigation of lead acetate–induced testicular dysfunction in Wistar rats via its antioxidant, anti–inflammatory and anti–apoptotic effects.