The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats

Cnidii Fructus: A traditional Chinese medicine herb and source of antiosteoporotic drugs

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis (OP) is a prevalent chronic metabolic bone disease for which limited countermeasures are available. Cnidii Fructus (CF), primarily derived from Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson., has been tested in clinical trials of traditional Chinese medicine for the management of OP. Accumulating preclinical studies indicate that CF may be used against OP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Comprehensive documentation and analysis were conducted to retrieve CF studies related to its main phytochemical components as well as its pharmacokinetics, safety and pharmacological properties. We also retrieved information on the mode of action of CF and, in particular, preclinical and clinical studies related to bone remodeling. This search was performed from the inception of databases up to the end of 2022 and included PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the National Science and Technology Library, the China Science and Technology Journal Database, Weipu, Wanfang, the Web of Science and the China National Patent Database.

RESULTS

CF contains a wide range of natural active compounds, including osthole, bergapten, imperatorin and xanthotoxin, which may underlie its beneficial effects on improving bone metabolism and quality. CF action appears to be mediated via multiple processes, including the osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK), Wnt/β-catenin and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)/Smad signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

CF and its ingredients may provide novel compounds for developing anti-OP drugs.

A Novel Furocoumarin Derivative, 5-((diethylamino)me-13 thyl)-3-phenyl-7H-furo [3,2-g] chromen-7-one Upregulates Melanin Synthesis via the Activation of cAMP/PKA and MAPKs Signal Pathway: In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Psoralen, a major furocoumarin component of the Fructus Psoralen (FP), in combination with ultraviolet radiation, cures abnormal pigmentation disorder. In a previous study, we synthesized a series of linear furocoumarins with different substituents, out of which 5-((diethylamino)methyl)-3-phenyl-7H-furo [3,2-g] chromen-7-one (encoded as 5D3PC) showed better pigmenting effect than others in B16 cells. In this study, we examined the mechanism underlying the melanogenic effect of 5D3PC both in vivo and in vitro. To examine the pigmentation effect, the B16 and human melanocyte cell lines, PIG1 and PIG3V melanocytes were incubated with 5D3PC. In animal experiments, C57BL/6 mice received 5% hydroquinone and were administrated with 5D3PC for 30 days. 5D3PC upregulated the melanin synthesis and tyrosinase in B16 cell, PIG1 and PIG3V. The expression level of tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), phosphorylation of cAMP-responsive element binding protein (p-CREB), phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c- phosphorylation of Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK) was significantly higher in 5D3PC-treated B16 cells. The oral administration of 5D3PC attenuated the depigmentation of the C57BL/6 vitiligo mice model by increasing the numbers of melanin-containing hair follicles, melanogenic protein, and melanogenesis-relative genes expression in skin tissues.

Review of Dermatologic Medications and Impact on Male Fertility, Sexual Dysfunction and Teratogenicity

BACKGROUND

Dermatologic medications have been linked to issues with safety during pregnancy and lactation. Despite this, limited research, often with conflicting findings, has been published on the association between dermatologic medications, male infertility, sexual dysfunction, and teratogenicity following paternal exposure.

OBJECTIVE

This review seeks to provide evidence-based guidance for physicians who are prescribing dermatologic medications to male patients who are trying to conceive.

METHODS

Common medications used in the largest outpatient specialist dermatologic centre in Singapore were the focus of this review. A PubMed search using MeSH terms from inception to April 22, 2021, was conducted. A secondary search was conducted to include common non-dermatologic medications. Drug information from various online clinical resources and the Tenth Edition of Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation were also used as a reference.

RESULTS

In this review of 234 studies, 131 medications were covered. A total of 34 medications were associated with male infertility and sexual dysfunction, while 16 medications were implicated with concerns of teratogenicity.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Physicians are advised to discuss the potential impact on male fertility and teratogenicity with males who are trying to conceive, while taking into consideration the clinical efficacy and tolerability of these medications and alternative treatments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Extracts of forage plants affect the developmental competence of ovine oocytes in vitro

Forage plants may contain secondary compounds that disrupt reproduction in ruminants so, as ‘duty of care’, proposed new forage species need to be tested for harmful effects on reproduction before industrial release. We evaluated the effects of Bituminaria bituminosa, Medicago sativa, Chicorium intybus, Trifolium subterraneum, Trifolium pratense, Biserrula pelecinus and Eremophila glabra, on the in vitro developmental competence of ovine oocytes. Crude methanolic extracts of each plant were added to the medium (final concentrations: 0, 50 or 100 μg dry extract per mL) used for in vitro maturation of cumulus-oocyte complexes derived from abattoir-sourced adult ewe ovaries. After in vitro fertilisation, we quantified cleavage rate, blastocyst rate, hatching rate, blastocyst efficiency, and total blastocyst cell number (TCN). Extract from B. pelecinus, at 50 μg/mL concentration, increased cleavage rate at (P < 0.05), and at 100 μg/mL, increased blastocyst rate and efficiency (P < 0.05). The other plant extracts did not affect these measures. TCN was affected by stage of development and treatment, but not by the interaction between stage and treatment. Within treatments, TCN was increased by C. intybus (at both 50 and 100 μg/mL) but decreased by M. sativa (at both 50 and 100 μg/mL; P < 0.05). We conclude that methanolic extracts of forage plants, present during in vitro oocyte maturation, did not disrupt subsequent fertilisation and embryo development until the blastocyst stage. On the contrary, B. pelecinus appears to improve fertilisation and embryo development. Overall, these observations suggest that these plants will not disrupt in vivo oocyte maturation but further testing is still required, especially for the other stages of the reproductive process.

Effects of aqueous extract of Ruta graveolens and its ingredients on cytochrome P450, uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferase, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P)H)-quinone oxidoreductase in mice

Ruta graveolens (the common rue) has been used for various therapeutic purposes, including relief of rheumatism and treatment of circulatory disorder. To elucidate the effects of rue on main drug-metabolizing enzymes, effects of an aqueous extract of the aerial part of rue and its ingredients on cytochrome P450 (P450/CYP), uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferase, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P)H):quinone oxidoreductase were studied in C57BL/6JNarl mice. Oral administration of rue extract to males increased hepatic Cyp1a and Cyp2b activities in a dose-dependent manner. Under a 7-day treatment regimen, rue extract (0.5 g/kg) induced hepatic Cyp1a and Cyp2b activities and protein levels in males and females. This treatment increased hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity only in males. However, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase activity remained unchanged. Based on the contents of rutin and furanocoumarins of mouse dose of rue extract, rutin increased hepatic Cyp1a activity and the mixture of furanocoumarins (F_mix) increased Cyp2b activities in males. The mixture of rutin and F_mix increased Cyp1a and Cyp2b activities. These results revealed that rutin and F_mix contributed at least in part to the P450 induction by rue.