Background: Cadmium chloride is a heavy metal that induces oxidative stress and causes adverse effects on the reproductive system. Antioxidants can be considered a useful strategy to reduce damages induced by oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of the aqueous extract of black mulberry, containing phytochemical composition, on the destructive effects of cadmium chloride on reproduction in male rabbits. Materials and methods: In this study, 15 adult male rabbits were divided into 3 groups: 1) control group (rabbits which received distilled water); 2) cadmium chloride group (rabbits which received cadmium chloride (5mg/BW)); 3) mulberry + cadmium group (rabbits which received mulberry (300 mg/kg BW), and after 3 hours, received cadmium (5mg/kg BW)). After 1 month, reproductive hormones (testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH)), antioxidant enzymes (glutathione: GSH and catalase: CAT), and lipid peroxidation index (malondialdehyde: MDA level) in the blood samples and epidydimal sperm number were tested in these three groups. Results: In the cadmium group, GSH and CAT, FSH, LH, T levels, and sperm count significantly decreased (p≤0.001), and MDA level significantly increased (p≤0.05) compared with the control group. Whereas, in the mulberry + cadmium group, the level of reproductive hormones and antioxidant enzymes and sperm count significantly increased (p≤0.05), while the MDA levels significantly decreased compared with the cadmium group. Conclusion: Cadmium chloride induces adverse effects through oxidative stress and the black mulberry with its potent antioxidant properties ameliorates negative effects induced by cadmium chloride and improves fertility parameters in male rabbits.
