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Ghorbaninejad Z, Eghbali A, Ghorbaninejad M, Ayyari M, Zuchowski J, Kowalczyk M, Baharvand H, Shahverdi A, Eftekhari-Yazdi P, Esfandiari F. Carob extract induces spermatogenesis in an infertile mouse model via upregulation of Prm1, Plzf, Bcl-6b, Dazl, Ngn3, Stra8, and Smc1b. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 301:115760. [PMID: 36209951 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Ethnopharmacological studies for drug discovery from natural compounds play an important role for developing current therapeutical platforms. Plants are a group of natural sources which have been served as the basis in the treatment of many diseases for centuries. In this regard, Ceratonia siliqua (carob) is one of the herbal medicine which is traditionally used for male infertility treatments. But so far the main mechanisms for effects of carob are unknown. Here, we intend to investigate the ability of carob extract to induce spermatogenesis in an azoospermia mouse model and determine the mechanisms that underlie its function. AIM OF THE STUDY This is a pre-clinical animal model study to evaluate the effect of carob extract in spermatogenesis recovery. METHODS We established an infertile mouse model with the intent to examine the ability of carob extract as a potential herbal medicine for restoration of male fertility. Sperm parameters, as well as gene expression dynamics and levels of spermatogenesis hormones, were evaluated 35 days after carob administration. RESULTS Significant enhanced sperm parameters (P < 0.05) showed that the carob extract could induce spermatogenesis in the infertile mouse model. Our data suggested an anti-apototic and inducer role in the expressions of cell cycle regulating genes. Carob extract improved the spermatogenesis niche by considerable affecting Sertoli and Leydig cells (P < 0.05). The carob-treated mice were fertile and contributed to healthy offspring that matured. Our data confirmed that this extract triggered the hormonal system, the spermatogenesis-related gene expression network, and signaling pathways to induce and promote sperm production with notable level (P < 0.05). We found that the aqueous extract consisted of a polar and mainly well water-soluble substance. Carob extract might upregulate spermatogenesis hormones via its amino acid components, which were detected in the extract by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). CONCLUSION Our results strongly suggest that carob extract might be a promising future treatment option for male infertility. This finding could pave the way for clinical trials in infertile men. This is the first study that has provided reliable, strong pre-clinical evidence for carob extract as an effective candidate for fertility recovery in cancer-related azoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynab Ghorbaninejad
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran; Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atiyeh Eghbali
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran; Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Ghorbaninejad
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Ayyari
- Department of Horticultural Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jerzy Zuchowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, State Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Mariusz Kowalczyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Crop Quality, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, State Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
| | - Hossein Baharvand
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein Shahverdi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Poopak Eftekhari-Yazdi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Fereshteh Esfandiari
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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Deans BJ, Just J, Smith JA, Bissember AC. Development and Applications of Water‐based Extraction Methods in Natural Products Isolation Chemistry. ASIAN J ORG CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ajoc.202000210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca J. Deans
- School of Natural Sciences ChemistryUniversity of Tasmania Hobart Australia
| | - Jeremy Just
- School of Natural Sciences ChemistryUniversity of Tasmania Hobart Australia
| | - Jason A. Smith
- School of Natural Sciences ChemistryUniversity of Tasmania Hobart Australia
| | - Alex C. Bissember
- School of Natural Sciences ChemistryUniversity of Tasmania Hobart Australia
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Kokkinofta R, Yiannopoulos S, Stylianou MA, Agapiou A. Use of Chemometrics for Correlating Carobs Nutritional Compositional Values with Geographic Origin. Metabolites 2020; 10:E62. [PMID: 32050624 PMCID: PMC7074360 DOI: 10.3390/metabo10020062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Carobs unique compositional and biological synthesis enables their characterization as functional foods. In the present study, 76 samples derived from fruit and seeds of carobs, with origin from the countries of the Mediterranean region (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Jordan and Palestine) were analyzed for their nutritional composition, in order to identify potential markers for their provenance and address the carobs' authenticity issue. Moisture, ash, fat, proteins, sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose), dietary fibers and minerals (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) were estimated following official methods. Due to the large number of data (76 samples × 17 parameters × 7 countries), chemometric techniques were employed to process them and extract conclusions. The samples of different geographical origin were discriminated with 79% success in total. The carobs from Cyprus, Italy and Spain were correctly classified without error. The main discriminators were found to be the dietary fibers, the carbohydrates and Cu, Zn and Mn, which emphasize their specific nutritional added value to the product and the country of origin impact. The results suggest that the proposed analytical approach is a powerful tool that enables the discrimination of carobs based on their country of origin. This research contributes to authenticity of carobs, adding value to local products.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marinos A. Stylianou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Agapios Agapiou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
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Krokou A, Stylianou M, Agapiou A. Assessing the volatile profile of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:35365-35374. [PMID: 30919189 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04664-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contribute to the communication, growth, breeding, and defense of plant; their role in plant kingdom is vital. Carob tree is cultivated mainly in Middle East and eastern European countries (e.g., Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus) and lately in Australia, the USA, and South Africa. Therefore, it is examined as a case study for its volatile emissions in the environment. Apart from the VOCs emitted from carob flowers and fruit, carob is considered of great interest for the food industry (carob powder), not only for its health benefits but also due to its characteristic strong aroma, which can be maintained even after processing (roasting). Solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS) analyses of carob flowers, fruit, and powder (commercial samples) were performed and the detected VOCs are presented and discussed. The most prominent chemical classes emitted from carob fruit and powder appeared to be acids followed by esters and aldehydes/ketones, whereas from carob flowers the terpenoids. The strongest VOCs both in carob fruits and powder were propanoic acid, 2-methyl (isobutyric acid) and in flowers ethanol. The uniqueness of carob benefits is well known in the agriculture, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food sector and is closely related to the agro-economy and long history of eastern Mediterranean countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andriana Krokou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Marinos Stylianou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Agapios Agapiou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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