Moringa induces its beneficial effect via hormesis

Moringa oleifera, a traditional Indian herb, is widely known for its capacity to induce antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other chemoprotective effects in a broad range of biomedical models. These perspectives have led to an extensive number of studies using various moringa extracts to evaluate its capacity to protect biological systems from oxidative stress and to explore whether it could be used to slow the onset of numerous age-related conditions and diseases. Moringa extracts have also been applied to prevent damage to plants from oxidative and saline stresses, following hormetic dose–response patterns. The present paper provides the first integrated and mechanistically based assessment showing that moringa extracts commonly induce hormetic dose responses and that many, perhaps most, of the beneficial effects of moringa are due to its capacity to act as an hormetic agent.

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant Effect and Sperm Quality of the Bomba ceiba Stamen Extracts on Charolais Cattle Sperm Induced by Ferrous Sulfate

Orange Bombax ceiba (B. ceiba) is an indigenous plant, and its stamen is an important ingredient in traditional Lanna food. There are limitations in scientific reports on the effects of the biological activities of B. ceiba stamens on the male reproductive system. This study aims to investigate the phytochemical compounds of the orange B. ceiba stamen and its potential effect on the antioxidant properties and quality of cattle sperm treated with Fe. The orange BUE had the highest total phenolics, total tannins, total monomeric anthocyanins, and maximal antioxidant potential. The orange BAE had the highest concentration of total flavonoids. LC-QTOF/MS showed that the orange BUE contained the highest number of phytochemical compounds related to male reproductive enhancement. The orange BUE enhanced sperm motility, and both the orange BUE and the BAE enhanced sperm viability and normal sperm morphology via free radical scavenging. It might be suggested that B. ceiba stamens have benefits for sperm preservation, sperm quality, and increasing the economic value of local plants, and that they may be developed and used to guard against oxidative stress from cryodamage induced by frozen semen technology.

A Review on the Impact of Oxidative Stress and Medicinal Plants on Leydig Cells

Leydig cells are essential for steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. An imbalance in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the cellular antioxidant level brings about oxidative stress. Oxidative stress (OS) results in the dysfunction of Leydig cells, thereby impairing steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and ultimately, male infertility. To prevent Leydig cells from oxidative insults, there needs to be a balance between the ROS production and the cellular protective capacity of antioxidants. Evidence indicates that medicinal plants could improve Leydig cell function at specific concentrations under basal or OS conditions. The increased usage of medicinal plants has been considered a possible alternative treatment for male infertility. This review aims to provide an overview of the impact of oxidative stress on Leydig cells as well as the effects of various medicinal plant extracts on TM3 Leydig cells. The medicinal plants of interest include Aspalathus linearis, Camellia sinensis, Moringa oleifera, Morinda officinale, Taraxacum officinale, Trichilia emetica, Terminalia sambesiaca, Peltophorum africanum, Ximenia caffra, Serenoa repens, Zingiber officinale, Eugenia jambolana, and a combination of dandelion and fermented rooibos (CRS-10). According to the findings obtained from studies conducted on the evaluated medicinal plants, it can, therefore, be concluded that the medicinal plants maintain the antioxidant profile of Leydig cells under basal conditions and have protective or restorative effects following exposure to oxidative stress. The available data suggest that the protective role exhibited by the evaluated plants may be attributed to their antioxidant content. Additionally, the use of the optimal dosage or concentration of the extracts in the management of oxidative stress is of the utmost importance, and the measurement of their oxidation reduction potential is recommended.

Moringa oleifera leaf ethanolic extract benefits cashmere goat semen quality via improving rumen microbiota and metabolome

Background

Artificial insemination (AI) is an effective reproductive technique to improve the performance of cashmere goats and prevent the spread of diseases, and the quality of the semen determines the success of AI. The potential of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MOLP) and Moringa oleifera leaf ethanolic extract (MOLE) to improve semen quality has been reported, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. For the purpose, 18 mature male cashmere goats were randomly assigned into three groups: the control (CON), MOLP, and MOLE groups. The CON group received distilled water orally; the MOLP group was orally treated with 200 mg/kg body weight (BW) MOLP; and the MOLE group was orally treated with 40 mg/kg BW MOLE.

Results

Results showed that MOLE contained long-chain fatty acids and flavonoids. Treatment with MOLP and MOLE increased the activities of the serum catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase (P < 0.05), enhanced the total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05), and reduced the serum malondialdehyde level (P < 0.05). At the same time, MOLE increased the contents of serum gonadotropin releasing hormone and testosterone (P < 0.05). Moreover, MOLE significantly increased sperm concentration, motility, and viability (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, MOLE raised the Chao1 index (P < 0.05) and altered the composition of the rumen microbiota; it also raised the relative abundance of Treponema (P < 0.05) and Fibrobacter (P < 0.05) and reduced the relative abundance of Prevotella (P < 0.1). Correlation analysis revealed the genus Prevotella was significantly negatively correlated with sperm concentration, as well as sperm motility and viability. Furthermore, MOLE significantly increased the rumen levels of the steroid hormones testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (P < 0.05), as well as the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) alpha-Linolenic acid, gamma-Linolenic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and 9-S-Hydroperoxylinoleicacid (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Oral MOLE supplementation can improve semen quality by increasing the antioxidant capacity and altering the rumen microbiota and metabolites of cashmere goats. Moreover, the MOLP supplementation could enhance the antioxidant capacity of cashmere goats.

Ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin can cause reproductive toxicity via endocrine signaling pathways

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and enrofloxacin (ENR) are veterinary antibiotics commonly utilized to treat and prevent animal diseases. Environmental and dietary antibiotic residues can directly and indirectly affect the reproductive development of animals and humans. This article investigated the reproductive toxicity of CIP in male zebrafish, showing that it could decrease the spermatogonial weight and damage the spermatogonial tissue. The sex hormone assays showed that CIP decreased fshb and lhb gene expression and plasma testosterone (T). In addition, transcriptome analysis indicated that the effect of CIP on zebrafish might be related to the endocrine signaling pathways. ENR, which was selected for further study, inhibited mouse Leydig (TM3) and Sertoli (TM4) cell proliferation and caused cell cycle arrest. The sperm concentration, serum luteotropic hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and T levels decreased in adolescent mice after ENR treatment for 30d in vivo. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining showed that ENR exposure potentially induced testicular injury, while the real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) results indicated that ENR inhibited the mRNA expression of key genes in the Leydig cells (cyp11a1, 3β-HSD, and 17β-HSD), Sertoli cells (Inhbβ and Gdnf) and spermatogenic cells (Plzf, Stra8 and Dmc1). In conclusion, these findings indicated that ENR exposure might influence the development of the testes of pubescent mice.

The Mechanisms and Management of Age-Related Oxidative Stress in Male Hypogonadism Associated with Non-communicable Chronic Disease

Androgens have diverse functions in muscle physiology, lean body mass, the regulation of adipose tissue, bone density, neurocognitive regulation, and spermatogenesis, the male reproductive and sexual function. Male hypogonadism, characterized by reduced testosterone, is commonly seen in ageing males, and has a complex relationship as a risk factor and a comorbidity in age-related noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs), such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and malignancy. Oxidative stress, as a significant contributor to the ageing process, is a common feature between ageing and NCDs, and the related comorbidities, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and chronic inflammation. Oxidative stress may also be a mediator of hypogonadism in males. Consequently, the management of oxidative stress may represent a novel therapeutic approach in this context. Therefore, this narrative review aims to discuss the mechanisms of age-related oxidative stress in male hypogonadism associated with NCDs and discusses current and potential approaches for the clinical management of these patients, which may include conventional hormone replacement therapy, nutrition and lifestyle changes, adherence to the optimal body mass index, and dietary antioxidant supplementation and/or phytomedicines.

Moringa oleifera ethanolic extract ameliorates the testicular dysfunction resulted from HFD-induced obesity rat model

In this study, we estimated the protective role of Moringa oleifera leaf ethanolic extract (MOLE) against obesity-associated testicular dysfunction. Fifty male albino rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 10): Group I (basal diet), group II (basal diet plus MOLE orally), group III (high-fat diet-HFD), group IV (HFD plus oral MOLE) and group V (HFD for 8 weeks followed by a basal diet plus oral MOLE for 6 weeks). The study duration extended for 14 weeks. Serum collected to investigate testosterone, FSH and LH levels. Testicular tissues were used to determine levels of SOD, glutathione, catalase and malondialdehyde. Semen was collected to estimate its quality (morphology, motility and concentration). Morphological changes in the testis were investigated by histopathological and immunohistochemical techniques. Compared with both control treatment and MOLE treatment, serum testosterone, FSH, LH, testicular enzymatic catalase, SOD, GSH, survivin immunoreactivity, sperm quality and testicular weight were all significantly decreased in rats treated with HFD, while there were significant increases in testicular malondialdehyde and caspase-3 immunoreactivity. MOLE improved all harmful effects of HFD. Improvements were more pronounced in the protected (G 4) than the treated (G 5) group. MOLE could be a potential solution for obesity-associated fertility problem.