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Exposure to atrazine (ATZ), an endocrine disrupting chemical reduces testosterone (T) concentration in mammalian animal models. Therefore, T is thought to have protective effects against ATZ-induced testicular damage and histologic changes in young adult rats. Male albino rats were divided randomly into five groups and given oral ATZ (50 mg/kg b.w) 6 days in a week alone or in combination with intraperitoneal injection of T (200, 400 or 800 µg/ kg b.w) every other day for 52 days. At the end of the study, sperm quality was increased and number of abnormal sperms was decreased in ATZ + T co-treated rats. Lipid peroxidation decreased, whereas lactate dehydrogenase activity and testosterone concentration increased after T co-treatment. The regulatory effects of T on tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), nitric oxide and myeloperoxidase activity in the testes of co-treated animals were observed in a dose-dependent manner except for TNF-α where the lowest T dose has better recovery effect than at higher doses. Furthermore, T co-treatment was observed to increase the epithelia thickness and diameter of the seminiferous tubule in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, T co-treatment could also dose-dependently elevate glutathione concentration and the enzyme activity levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase in the testes of rats. The data suggest that T minimized ATZ-induced diminution of defensive inflammatory molecules and antioxidant systems, further elucidating the relevance of androgens under inflammatory and oxidative stress situations in the testes.

The use of antiviral COVID-19 medications can successfully inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication and prevent disease progression to a more severe form. However, the timing of antiviral treatment plays a crucial role in this regard. Oral antiviral drugs provide an opportunity to manage SARS-CoV-2 infection without a need for hospital admission, easing the general burden that COVID-19 can have on the healthcare system. This review paper (i) presents the potential pharmaceutical antiviral targets, including various host-based targets and viral-based targets, (ii) characterizes the first-generation anti-SARS-CoV-2 oral drugs (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir), (iii) summarizes the clinical progress of other oral antivirals for use in COVID-19, (iv) discusses ethical issues in such clinical trials and (v) presents challenges associated with the use of oral antivirals in clinical practice. Oral COVID-19 antivirals represent a part of the strategy to adapt to long-term co-existence with SARS-CoV-2 in a manner that prevents healthcare from being overwhelmed. It is pivotal to ensure equal and fair global access to the currently available oral antivirals and those authorized in the future.

Fluted pumpkin (FP; Telfairia occidentalis) is an edible vegetable, grown in West Africa, that is used in traditional medicine for its regulatory effects on the male gonads. Scientific articles concerning the effects of FP were identified by searching PubMed, PubChem, Scopus, Springer, ResearchGate, Google Scholar and Web of Science; this literature was to better understand the effects of FP seed (FPS) and leaf (FPL) extracts on the testes. Data showed that in experimental animals extracts of FPL and FPS at 1/100 of the lethal dose promoted testis regeneration and improved testosterone concentration and sperm quality, while at higher doses they had antifertility effects. Several extracts of FPS and FPL, including ethanol, aqueous, methanol and hydroethanolic, had protective effects on the testes of study animals at lower doses (≥ 50 mg/kg body weight), but at higher doses (≥ 200 mg/kg body weight) they inhibited hormone synthesis, sperm quality and histomorphological structure, under both normal and disease conditions. The posttreatment effects of FPS on the gonads were reversible in young mature rats and FPS had slight systemic toxic effects. Although, there are inconsistencies in some of the published results, the current evidence suggests that FPS and FPL have both profertility and reversible antifertility effects in experimental animals.