Protective effects of licorice extract on ovarian morphology, oocyte maturation, and embryo development in PCOS-induced mice: An experimental study

Effect of Gentianella acuta (Michx.) Hulten against the arsenic-induced development hindrance of mouse oocytes

The current study was designed to investigate the alleviative effect of Gentianella acuta (Michx.) Hulten (G. acuta) against the sodium arsenite (NaAsO2)-induced development hindrance of mouse oocytes. For this purpose, the in vitro maturation (IVM) of mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) was conducted in the presence of NaAsO2 and G. acuta, followed by the assessments of IVM efficiency including oocyte maturation, spindle organization, chromosome alignment, cytoskeleton assembly, cortical granule (CGs) dynamics, redox regulation, epigenetic modification, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Subsequently, the alleviative effect of G. acuta intervention on the fertilization impairments of NaAsO2-exposed oocytes was confirmed by the assessment of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The results showed that the G. acuta intervention effectively ameliorated the decreased maturation potentials and fertilization deficiency of NaAsO2-exposed oocytes but also significantly inhibited the DNA damages, apoptosis, and altered H3K27me3 expression level in the NaAsO2-exposed oocytes. The effective effects of G. acuta intervention against redox dysregulation including mitochondrial dysfunctions, accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, glutathione (GSH) deficiency, and decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) further confirmed that the ameliorative effects of G. acuta intervention against the development hindrance of mouse oocytes were positively related to the antioxidant capacity of G. acuta. Evidenced by these abovementioned results, the present study provided fundamental bases for the ameliorative effect of G. acuta intervention against the meiotic defects caused by the NaAsO2 exposure, benefiting the future application potentials of G. acuta intervention in these nutritional and therapeutic research for attenuating the outcomes of arseniasis.

Effects of natural products on polycystic ovary syndrome: From traditional medicine to modern drug discovery

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder with a worldwide prevalence of 6-10 % of women of reproductive age. PCOS is a risk factor for cardiometabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction, and stroke in addition to exhibiting signs of hyperandrogenism and anovulation. However, there is no known cure for PCOS, and medications have only ever been used symptomatically, with a variety of adverse effects. Drugs made from natural plant products may help treat PCOS because several plant extracts have been widely recognized to lessen the symptoms of PCOS. In light of this, 72 current studies on natural products with the potential to control PCOS were examined. By controlling the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and decreasing NF-κB and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), certain plant-derived chemicals might reduce inflammation. Other substances altered the HPO axis, which normalized hormones. Additionally, other plant components increased glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels to reduce radiation-induced oxidative stress. The other substances prevented autophagy by impairing beclin 1, autophagy-related 5 (ATG5), and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 - II (LC3- II). The main focus of this comprehensive review is the possibility of plant extracts as natural bio-resources of PCOS treatment by regulating inflammation, hormones, reactive oxygen species (ROS), or autophagy.

Phytochemicals: Alternative for Infertility Treatment and Associated Conditions

Infertility and obstetric complications have become global health issues in the past few years. Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive even after twelve months or more of regular and unprotected intercourse. According to WHO data published in the year 2020, 186 million people have infertility globally. Factors leading to infertility are variable in both males and females. But some common factors include smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and stress. Various synthetic drugs and treatment options are available that are effective in treating infertility, but their prolonged usage produces various unwanted adverse effects like hot flashes, mood swings, headaches, and weight gain. In extreme cases, these may also lead to the development of anxiety and depression. Herbal remedies have gained a lot of popularity over the years, and people's inclination toward them has increased all over the world. The prime reason is that these show significant therapeutic efficacy and have fewer side effects. The therapeutic efficacy of plants can be attributed to the presence of diverse phytochemical classes of constituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, and volatile oils. These secondary metabolites, or phytomolecules, can be used to develop herbal formulations. The review highlights the applications and mechanisms of action of various phytochemicals for treating infertility. Also, it focuses on the various future prospects associated with it.

Hydroalcoholic extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra root combined with Linum usitatissimum oil as an alternative for hormone replacement therapy in ovariectomized rats

Objective

Plant-derived estrogens (phytoestrogens) with structural similarity to primary female sex hormones could be suitable replacements for sex hormones. Therefore, the effects of the licorice root extract and Linum usitatissimum oil on biochemical and hormonal indices in the serum and uterine stereological changes in ovariectomized rats were evaluated.

Design

In this study, 70 adult female rats were randomly divided into seven groups including 1) control group, 2) sham-operated group, 3) ovariectomized (OVX) group, 4) OVX rats that received 1 mg/kg estradiol for 8 weeks at the day of post-operation, 5) OVX rats which received 2.0 mg/kg body wt Linum usitatissimum oil for 8 weeks at the day of post-operation, 6) OVX rats which received 2.0 mg/kg body wt licorice extract for 8 weeks at the day of post-operation, and 7) OVX rats which received 2.0 mg/kg body wt Linum usitatissimum oil + 2.0 mg/kg body wt licorice extract for 8 weeks at the day of post-operation. After eight weeks, alkaline phosphatase activity, as well as calcium, estradiol, and progesterone concentrations were assessed and tissue samples of the uterus were serologically examined.

Results

The results indicated that after 8 weeks of OVX the alkaline phosphatase activity (Mean = 637.7 IU/L) increased and the calcium (Mean = 7.09 mg/dl), estradiol (5.30 pmol/L), and progesterone (Mean = 3.53 nmol/L) reduced compared to other groups. Moreover, stereological changes in the uterus in ovariectomy groups were seen compared to the other groups. The treatment with Linum usitatissimum oil and licorice extract had a significant therapeutic effect on biochemical factors and stereological changes compared to the ovariectomized group.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that the combination of Linum usitatissimum oil with licorice extract showed the high potential of hormone replacement therapy in the reduction of OVX complications.

Chamomile and Urtica dioica extracts improve immunological and histological alterations associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome in DHEA -induced mice

BACKGROUND

One of the novel mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is low-grade chronic inflammation. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and Nettle (Urtica dioica), with phytoestrogenic and antioxidant properties, are traditionally used to treat gynecological diseases. This study investigated the immune-modulating effects of these two plants.

METHODS

Following the induction of PCOS by subcutaneous injection (SC) of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in BALB / C mice. Mice were treated in five groups: Sham, PCOS, PCOS + Chamomile, PCOS + Nettle, and PCOS + Chamomile and Nettle for 21 days. Ovarian morphology, blood antioxidant capacity, the abundance of Treg cells, and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), cyclooxygenase-2 genes (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured.

RESULTS

Folliculogenesis, Cystic follicles, and corpus luteum improved in the treatment groups (P < 0. 05). Treg cells in the DHEA group were significantly reduced compared to the Sham group (P < 0. 01). However, this decrease was not corrected in treatment groups (P > 0. 05). Total serum antioxidant capacity was significantly increased in the treatment group of Nettle and Chamomile + Nettle (P < 0. 05). The expression of MMP9 and TGFβ genes in the PCOS group was significantly higher than the Sham group (P < 0. 05), which the expression of MMP9 was corrected by treatment with Chamomile + Nettle extract (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSION

Chamomile and Nettle extract may be an effective supplement in improving the histological and immunological changes of PCOS. However, more research is needed to confirm its effectiveness in humans.

Association between Glucose Consumption and Oocyte Maturation Competence in Mice with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated association between glucose uptake by individually cultured oocyte and their maturation competence in mice with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this experimental study, PCOS and non-PCOS cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), and cumulus-denuded oocytes (DOs) were cultured individually and categorized in four groups: i. PCOS DOs (n=83), ii. PCOS COCs (n=35), iii. Non-PCOS DOs (n=61) and iv. Non-PCOS COCs (n=62). After the culture period, 50 μl aliquots of the spent drops were used for glucose change analysis using high performance liquid chromatography. Polar NH2 column was used for the study of carbohydrates, acetonitrile with deionized water as the solvent phase and UV as detectors. Oocyte quality (growth differentiation factor 9: GDF-9), viability [bcl-2-like protein 4 (BAX) and B-cell lymphoma2 (BCL2)], in addition to fertilization and embryonic development rates were also evaluated in relation to glucose consumption rate of each oocyte.

RESULTS

Maturation rate was significantly higher in non-PCOS COCs and DOs compared to PCOS COCs (IV: 70.9% vs. II: 45.71%) and DOs (III: 67.2% vs. 1: 53.01%), respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between high glucose intake (38.17 ppm) and BCL2 gene expression (P=0.03) in PCOS COCs compared to non-PCOS COCs. There was a significant difference in the GDF-9 gene expression from PCOS DOs (0.66 ± 0.02, P=0.003) and COCs (0.37 ± 0.02, P=0.0001) compared to non-PCOS DOs and COCs, respectively. A negative correlation was also observed between quality of PCOS-DOs and -COCs with glucose intake. Non-PCOS COCs significantly showed higher rate of successful IVF and development compared to PCOS COCs (P=0.01).

CONCLUSION

Based on the importance of metabolic analysis, the glucose consumption by DOs and COCs in culture medium can be a suitable criterion for their quality assessment. So that, glucose consumption may reflect oocyte maturation competence.

Long Term Oral Administration of Oregano Essence Effectively Relieves Polycystic Ovarian Rats through Endocrine and Inflammatory Balance

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is alarmingly rising and sustainable therapy/prevention is needed. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of oregano or Origanum vulgare (O. vulgare) essence (OE) on the PCOS rat model system. Vaginal smears monitored the estrous cycle of 40 virgin adult rats, and they received 2 mg estradiol valerate (EV)/0.2 ml corn oil intramuscularly to induce PCOS. At 60 days post-EV injection, all rats were evaluated for follicular development/cysts. The EV-induced PCOS rats were orally administered 250 and 500 mg/kgBW/day of OE for 30 days. OE was also further assessed for its predominant components along with hormonal, histological, and inflammatory-related gene expressions in the ovaries. The main components of the OE were predominantly pulegone (36.3), L-menthone (31.3%), far less piperitone (7.8%), isopiperitone (6.4%), isomenthol (3.6%), humulene epoxide II (2.2%), α-pinene (1.7%), and thymol (1.5%). Hormonal, histological, and inflammatory-related gene expression results showed >4-fold and 1.5-fold increase in FSH and progesterone; ∼50%, 85%, 45%, 55%, and 30% decreased in LH, estradiol, estrogen, testosterone, and AMH; and dose-dependently decreased in mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1α, NF-kB, TNF-α, and IL-1β by 25–65%, 55–75%, 15–40%, 30–55%, and 35–55%, respectively, and thus decreased the severity of PCOS, boosted endocrine balance, restored functional follicles and corpus luteum, and thus ovulation in PCOS rats. Overall, in the disrupted PCOS rats, OE oral treatment effectively relieved estradiol-induced PCOS rats via: (1) its endocrine balancing on GnRH, FSH, and LH and (2) its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties on ovary caused by OE's useful compounds like pulegone, thymol, and L-menthone. Though many aspects of the effects remain to be tested, such an underlying mechanistic reproductive regulatory effect observed in OE-administered rats further proves its sensible pharmaceutical applications in reproductive medicine and more specifically, PCOS.

Female infertility and herbal medicine: An overview of the new findings

Infertility is defined as the failure to achieve a successful pregnancy after 12 months' sexual activity that affects 15%-17% of couples in the world and about 50% of them are related to female infertility factors. In this study, using the PRISMA checklist and MeSH keywords, 128 articles were extracted from various databases (PubMed, Cochrane library, WHO, Iranmedex, Science Direct, SID, and Google Scholar search engine) without language and time restrictions, and 128 articles were selected after eliminating duplicate studies. In this review, we present some solid evidence for role of herbal medicine in the treatment of female infertility. The results of this study showed that different parts of some plants are rich in polyphenolic compounds (isoflavones and flavonoids) and other compounds which are beneficial to in reproductive health in women. The compounds in these plants, along with regulating the female endocrine pathways, and improving symptoms of menopause, treat female reproductive disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure (POF), endometriosis, hyperprolactinemia, and hypothalamic dysfunction; moreover, because of their anticancer, antioxidant, and antidepressant properties, they can be used in traditional medicine or in the pharmaceutical industry as safe compounds in women's health.