Effect of the aqueous extract of Senecio biafrae (Oliv. & Hiern) J. Moore on some fertility parameters in immature female rat

Quercetin and Ferulic Acid Elicit Estrogenic Activities In Vivo and In Silico

In this study, we examined the sub-acute toxicity of quercetin and ferulic acid and evaluated their effects on protein, cholesterol, and estrogen levels in vivo. Six groups of female Wistar rats were fed by gavage. The first and second groups represent the positive (Clomiphene citrate 10 mg/kg) and negative (NaCl 0.9%) control groups, while the other groups received quercetin and ferulic acid at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg/day for 28 days. The sub-acute toxicity was monitored by examining the weights, biochemical parameters (AST, ALT, ALP, urea, and CREA), and histological changes in the kidneys and liver of the treated animals. Furthermore, the in vivo estrogenic effects were studied in terms of the serum and ovarian cholesterol levels, serum estradiol, and uterine proteins. Finally, Docking studies were conducted to evaluate the binding affinity of quercetin and ferulic acid for alpha and beta estrogen receptors. Results showed that both compounds were devoid of any signs of nephrotoxicity or hepatotoxicity. Additionally, quercetin and ferulic acid caused significant estrogenic effects evidenced by an increase of 8.7 to 22.48% in serum estradiol, though to a lesser amount than in the reference drug-treated group (64.21%). Moreover, the two compounds decreased the serum cholesterol levels (12.26-32.75%) as well as the ovarian cholesterol level (11.9% to 41.50%) compared to the negative control. The molecular docking in estrogen alpha and estrogen beta active sites showed high affinity of quercetin (-10.444 kcal/mol for estrogen alpha and -10.662 kcal/mol for estrogen beta) and ferulic acid (-6.377 kcal/mol for estrogen alpha and -6.3 kcal/mol for estrogen beta) to these receptors. This study provides promising insights into the potential use of quercetin as a therapeutic agent for the management of female fertility issues.

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.

Assessment of in vivo estrogenic and anti-inflammatory activities of the hydro-ethanolic extract and polyphenolic fraction of parsley (Petroselinum sativum Hoffm.)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Since the dawn of time, medicinal and aromatic plants (AMPs) represent a precious heritage for humanity, especially in developing countries, who exploit their virtues in traditional pharmacopoeia to cope with health problems such as diabetes, kidney stones, ulcer, and digestive disorders. Petroselinum sativum Hoffm. belongs to Apiaceae family. It is traditionally used to treat arterial hypertension, diabetes, cardiac disease, renal disease, and recently reported as a plant endowed with a female anti-infertility effect.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to evaluate the in vivo effect of hydro-ethanolic extract and polyphenols of Petroselinum sativum Hoffm. on cholesterol, protein and estrogen levels, and characterize the chemical composition of polyphenolic fraction. In addition, acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of tested extract was also investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chemical composition of polyphenolic fraction was determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode-Array Detection (HPLC-DAD). First, toxicological investigations including sub-acute toxicity were performed by measuring animals' weights daily for four weeks. Afterwards, histopathological examination of livers and kidneys, and serum assay of ASAT and ALAT were also checked. Next, the acute in vivo anti-inflammatory study of the hydro-ethanolic extract and polyphenols of Petroselinum sativum Hoffm. versus Indomethacin was conducted. Furthermore, we evaluated the estrogenic effect of its hydro-ethanolic extract and the polyphenolic fraction following biochemical assays for the determination of proteins, cholesterol and estrogen levels.

RESULTS

The results revealed the presence of some phenolic compounds mainly ferulic acid, gallic acid and quercetin. Petroselinum sativum Hoffm. extracts also showed no evidence of hepatotoxicity nor nephrotoxicity, with remarkable anti-inflammatory activity, as well as a significant estrogenic effect compared to negative control.

CONCLUSION

This study provides a scope of the potential use of Petroselinum sativum Hoffm. extracts in counteracting female infertility issues.

In Vitro Efficacy of Aqueous and Methanol Extract of Cassia siamea Against the Motility of Caenorhabditis elegans

Gastrointestinal nematode infections can cause great losses in revenue due to decrease livestock production and animal death. The use of anthelmintic to control gastrointestinal nematode put a selection pressure on nematode populations which led to emergence of anthelmintic resistance. Because of that, this study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of aqueous and methanol extract of Cassia siamea against the motility of C. elegans Bristol N2 and C. elegans DA1316. Caenorhabditis elegans Bristol N2 is a susceptible strain and C. elegans DA1316 is an ivermectin resistant strain. In vitro bioassay of various concentrations of (0.2, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 2.0 mg mL⁻¹) aqueous and methanol extracts of C. siamea was conducted against the motility of L4 larvae of C. elegans Bristol N2 and C. elegans DA1316. The L4 larvae were treated with 0.02 μg mL⁻¹ of ivermectin served as positive control while those in M9 solution served as negative control. The activity of the extracts was observed after 24 h and 48 h. A significant difference was recorded in the extract performance compared to control at (P < 0.001) after 48 h against the motility of the larvae of both strains. The methanol extracts inhibited the motility of C. elegans Bristol N2 by 86.7% as well as DA1316 up to 84.9% at 2.0 mg mL⁻¹ after 48 h. The methanol extract was more efficient than aqueous extract (P < 0.05) against the motility of both strains of C. elegans. Cassia siamea may be used as a natural source of lead compounds for the development of alternative anthelmintic against parasitic nematodes as well ivermectin resistant strains of nematodes.

Role of Antioxidant Natural Products in Management of Infertility: A Review of Their Medicinal Potential

Infertility, a couple's inability to conceive after one year of unprotected regular intercourse, is an important issue in the world. The use of natural products in the treatment of infertility has been considered as a possible alternative to conventional therapies. The present study aimed to investigate the effects and the mechanisms of various natural products on infertility. We collected articles regarding infertility and natural products using the research databases PubMed and Google Scholar. Several natural products possess antioxidant properties and androgenic activities on productive factors and hormones. Antioxidants are the first defense barrier against free radicals produced by oxidative stress (OS). They remove reactive oxygen stress (ROS), reducing insulin resistance, total cholesterol, fat accumulation, and cancer growth. Moreover, various natural products increase endometrial receptivity and fertility ability showing androgenic activities on productive factors and hormones. For example, Angelica keiskei powder and Astragalus mongholicus extract showed anti-infertility efficacies in males and females, respectively. On the other hand, adverse effects and acute toxicity of natural products were also reported. Tripterygium glycoside decreased fertility ability both in males and females. Results indicate that management of infertility with natural products could be beneficial with further clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effect.

Effect of different extracts and fractions of Senecio biafrae (Oliv. &Hiern) J. Moore on in vivo and in vitro parameters of folliculogenesis in experimental animals

BACKGROUND

Senecio biafrae is a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine to cure female infertility. Some effects have been pharmacologically demonstrated on immature female rats but in vivo and in vitro investigations are still necessary for determining its mechanism of action. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the estrogenic and FSH-like effects of the plant extracts and fractions on some fertility parameters in immature female rats and on in vitro survival and growth of swine preantral follicles.

METHODS

21-23 days old female Wistar rats orally received extracts and fractions of S. biafrae at 0, 8 and 64 mg/kg doses over 20 days. The LH, FSH, estradiol and progesterone serum levels were evaluated as well as the ovarian cholesterol, uterus and ovaries masses and proteins. The numbers of follicles at different developmental stages were recorded in ovarian cortexes after histology. Slices of swine ovarian cortexes were cultured along 1 or 7 days in alpha-minimum essential medium (α-MEM) and fixed for morphological analysis of preantral follicles. The fresh control, cultured control (CIV control) and different Senecio biafrae-treated ovarian fragments were analyzed for preantral follicles development. Treatments that showed the best follicle growth in culture were submitted to AgNOR test. The aqueous and MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ extracts as well as the ethyl acetate and hexane fractions of S. biafrae were submitted to the HPLC for analysis of polyphenolic secondary metabolites.

RESULTS

Ovarian and uterine proteins were significantly high (p < 0.01) in animals treated with the two dosages of ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions. The same result was recorded with uterine proteins in animals treated with the hexane fraction. The FSH level significantly dropped with all ethanolic extract doses and with the 64 mg/kg dosage of the methanol/methylene chloride (MeOH/CH₂Cl₂) extract while LH was reduced (p < 0.01) in almost all the treated groups. Estradiol level was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in the three groups receiving the extracts, but reduced (p < 0.001) in the three groups receiving the fractions of the plant. The progesterone level increased with almost all the treated groups. Primary and secondary follicles augmented (p < 0.01) in MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ extract and n-butanol fraction while tertiary follicles increased with the same extract and the ethyl acetate fraction (p < 0.05). Treatments with aqueous and ethanolic extracts as well as ethyl acetate fraction led to a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the number of morphologically normal follicles after 7 days of culture as compared to the CIV control. The number of AgNOR dots per follicle was significantly low (p < 0.05) in all cultured groups as compared to the fresh control, except the ethyl acetate 2.8 ng/ml dosage. The same observation was done with AgNOR dots per cell in the 2.8 ng/ml dosage aqueous extract-treated fragments. The phenolic compounds mainly encountered in the plant, independently of the extract or fraction are apigenin, eugenol and rutin.

CONCLUSION

Extracts and fractions of S. biafrae have an important FSH-like effect which induces follicular survival and growth.

Myrianthus arboreus P. Beauv (Cecropiaceae) Extracts Accelerates Sexual Maturation, and Increases Fertility Index and Gestational Rate in Female Wistar Rats

Background: Despite the wide use of leaves of Myrianthus arboreus (Cecropiaceae) in several African countries including Cameroon as food and against amenorrhea and female infertility, it has never been tested for this purpose. Methods: Using immature female Wistar rats, the impact of M. arboreus on the sexual maturation parameters (vaginal opening, ovarian relative weight and follicle maturation, gonadotropins and ovarian hormones serum levels) and fertility index has been evaluated through a 30-day oral administration of aqueous and methanol extracts of leaves at the doses of 20, 110 and 200 g/kg/day. Results: Aqueous extract increased the ovarian relative weight (p < 0.001), progesterone (p < 0.001) and gonadotropins (p < 0.001) serum levels, and induced the maturation of ovarian follicles. The methanol extract additionally induced an early vaginal opening (p < 0.001), uterine growth (p < 0.01) and increased estradiol (p < 0.001) serum levels. The fertility index generally increased following treatments, while the gestation rate remained almost unaffected except at the highest tested dose of M. arboreus extracts where lowest values were observed. Conclusion: Globally, M. arboreus induced an early puberty onset and an increased fertility rate validating at least in part its traditional use for female infertility.

Action of the hydroethanolic extract of the flowers of Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen on the reproductive performance of Wistar females rats: A popular female aphrodisiac from the Amazon

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The species Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen (Asteraceae), popularly known as jambú, is marketed in fairs as a female aphrodisiac and has several pharmacological activities already confirmed, among them the sexual stimulant action. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the oral administration of the hydroethanolic extract of A. oleracea flowers (EHAo) on wistar rats during the pre-mating, mating, and pre-implantation period.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

During the treatment period, measurements of feed intake, water intake, weight, estrous cycle, behavior, reproductive parameters, biochemical parameters, hematological parameters, and histopathology of ovaries were performed daily.

RESULTS

In the gas chromatography analysis - mass spectrometry characterization, the compound (2E, 6Z, 8E) -N-isobutyldeca-2,6,8-trienamide (spilanthol) was detected as the majority compound at the 84% concentration. In the conditions of this study, EHAo did not cause maternal toxicity. However, in the estrous cycle, the frequency of the Proestrous (P) and Estrous (E) phase was significantly increased with the doses of 88.91 and 444.57mg/kg of the EHAo in relation to the control. On the other hand, the metaestrous (M) and diestrous (D) phases showed a significant reduction in their frequency in the groups treated with EHAo. Water intake increased significantly (p < 0.01), as well as the triglyceride levels, the total cholesterol and fractions (p < 0.05), and the percentage of neutrophils (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

It is concluded, therefore, that the treatment with EHAo, which is one of the forms popularly used, is safe in the concentrations and time of treatment studied as it is able to influence the estrous cycle without altering folliculogenesis and fertility.