Paper Title
Effect of Quercetin on Reproductive Oxidative Stress Parameters Induced by Butylparaben in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract
Parabens are widely used as preservatives in many foods, cosmetics, toiletries and pharmaceuticals. Parabens such as butylparaben, methylparaben exert a weak estrogenic activity, with butylparaben as the most potent. Quercetin is a pigment found in many plants, fruits, and vegetables which helps in fighting free radicals, reducing inflammation among others. The study is aimed to determine the effect of quercetin on reproductive oxidative stressof male Wistar rats treated with butylparaben. Thirty Wistar rats divided into 6 groups of five (5), rats received 100mg/kg of butylparaben (BP), 100mg/kg of BP and 25mg/kg of quercetin (Q), 100mg/kg of BP and 50mg/kg of Q, 100mg/kg of BP and 100mg/kg of Q, 100mg/kg of BP and 200mg/kg of Q respectively all dissolved in corn oil while the control rats were fed diet with water ad libitum dissolved in corn oil. The rats were administered the mixture for 60days (3 times in a week). The rats were sedated using chloroform, the testis was harvested, homogenized and used for malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) estimation using thiobarbituric acid method, Ellman’s method, epinephrine method and Rotrucket al method respectively. The result of the experiment showed significant reduction in MDA(µmol MDA/mg protein) of BP treated compared with the BP mixed with various concentrations of Quercetin with significant increases in GSH(units/mg protein), SOD(units/mg protein) and GPx (units/mg protein) of BP treated compared with the BP mixed with various concentrations of Quercetinrespectively. The result of the study has shown that quercetin caused reversal of reproductive oxidative stress parameters induced by butylparaben. Keyword - Butylparaben, Reproductive, Oxidative Stress, Quercetin