Induced-damages on preantral follicles by withanolide D, a potent chemotherapy candidate are not attenuated by melatonin

Melatonin and ovarian tissue transplantation: Current frontiers in research

The progress achieved in anticancer therapy in recent years has been paralleled by an increase in the survival of women with cancer globally. Nonetheless, the gonadotoxic impact of anticancer drugs has led to ovarian failure in treated women. While there are documented cases of successful ovarian tissue transplants resulting in restored fertility and childbirth, challenges persist, including suboptimal functional recovery and limited graft lifespan. Melatonin, an inert hormone primarily secreted by the mammalian pineal gland, exhibits diverse physiological functions, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and angiogenesis-regulating properties. Consequently, researchers have explored melatonin as a modulator to enhance graft function recovery in ovarian transplantation experiments, yielding promising outcomes. This review examines the relevant literature, consolidating findings that underscore the positive effects of melatonin in safeguarding the morphology and structure of transplanted ovarian tissues, facilitating graft function recovery, and extending lifespan. The amassed evidence supports the consideration of melatonin as a prospective protective agent for human ovarian tissue transplantation in the future.

Potential use of bacterial pigments as anticancer drugs and female reproductive toxicity: a review

Abstract Natural bioactive compounds obtained from microorganisms, have awakened particular interest in the industry nowadays. This attention comes when natural resources depletion is pronounced, and the acquisition of both new plant origin resources and bioactive products, represents a challenge for the next generations. In this sense, prospecting for large-scale production and use of bacterial pigments is a necessary strategy for the development of novel products. A wide variety of properties have been attributed to these substances and, among them, their therapeutic potential against important diseases, such as cancer. There is consensus that available chemotherapy protocols are known to detrimentally affect cancer patients fertility. Hence, considerable part of the deleterious effects of chemotherapy is related to the drugs cytotoxicity, which, in addition to cancer cells, also affect normal cells. Therefore, the intrinsic properties of bacterial pigments associated with low cytotoxicity and relevant cell selectivity, certified them as potential anticancer drugs. However, little information is available about reproductive toxicity of these new and promising compounds. Thus, the present review aims to address the main bacterial pigments, their potential uses as anticancer drugs and their possible toxic effects, especially on the female gonad.

Uso potencial de pigmentos bacterianos como drogas anticâncer e toxicidade reprodutiva feminina: uma revisão

Resumo Os compostos bioativos naturais obtidos de microrganismos têm despertado especial interesse da indústria nos últimos anos. Esta atenção ocorre em um momento em que o esgotamento de recursos naturais é pronunciado, e a aquisição de novos insumos e produtos bioativos de origem vegetal representa um desafio para as próximas gerações. Neste sentido, a prospecção para a produção e uso em larga escala dos pigmentos bacterianos tem representado uma importante estratégia para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos. Uma grande variedade de propriedades foi atribuída a estas substâncias, entre elas, o potencial terapêutico contra doenças importantes, como o câncer. Existe um consenso de que os protocolos quimioterápicos disponíveis são conhecidos por afetarem negativamente a fertilidade de pacientes com câncer. Grande parte dos efeitos deletérios da quimioterapia está relacionado à citotoxicidade das drogas usadas para este fim, que além das células cancerosas, afetam as células normais. Nesse sentido, as propriedades naturais atribuídas aos pigmentos bacterianos associadas à baixa citotoxicidade e relevante seletividade, os qualificaram como potenciais drogas anticâncer. No entanto, pouco se tem de informação a respeito da toxicidade reprodutiva destes novos e promissores compostos. Dessa forma, a presente revisão tem o objetivo de abordar os principais pigmentos bacterianos, suas utilizações potenciais como drogas anticâncer, bem como os seus possíveis efeitos tóxicos, sobretudo, sobre a gônada feminina.