Protective Effects of Anthocyanin and α-Tocopherol Against Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle-Induced DNA Damage in Human Sperm Cells

The male reproductive system is known for its high complexity and sensitivity, particularly concerning environmental stressors. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) could alter male reproductive function by increasing sperm DNA damage caused by an overproduction of ROS. The ability of anthocyanin and α-tocopherol to counteract the effects induced by TiO2-NPs was assessed in human sperm cells after 30, 45, and 90 min of in vitro exposure. Antigenotoxicity was evaluated by comet and TUNEL assays, the RAPD‒PCR technique, and relative genomic template stability analyses. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration was detected by the probe dichlorofluorescein. Anthocyanin and α-tocopherol attenuated sperm DNA damage induced by TiO2-NPs in vitro, likely by activating the natural defence and DNA repair systems in sperm cells. Interestingly, compared with α-tocopherol, anthocyanin exhibited a more pronounced antigenotoxic effect, potentially due to the inherent ability of anthocyanin molecules to stabilise DNA. These results provide valuable insights into the beneficial and protective effects of anthocyanin and α-tocopherol on human germ cells treated with NPs, representing a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent nanomaterial-induced toxicity.