Direct effect of pholyphenol-rich plants, rooibos and ginkgo, on porcine ovarian cell functions

Can some food/medicinal plants directly affect porcine ovarian granulosa cells and mitigate the toxic effect of toluene?

The action of buckwheat, rooibos and vitex on healthy female reproductive systems, as well as their ability to mitigate the reproductive toxicity of environmental contaminant toluene have not yet been examined. We analysed the influence of toluene (0, 10, 100 or 1000 ng/mL) with and without these plant extracts (10 μg/mL) on cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells. Cell viability, proliferation (PCNA accumulation), apoptosis (accumulation of bax) and release of progesterone (P) and oestradiol (E) were measured. Toluene reduced ovarian cell viability and proliferation, increased apoptosis and suppressed E but not P release. Plant extracts, given alone, were also able to directly suppress some ovarian cell functions. The addition of buckwheat promoted toluene action on cell viability, proliferation and P release, but it did not modify other toluene effects. Rooibos mitigated toluene action on cell viability, proliferation and apoptosis but promoted its action on P and E. The addition of vitex mitigated all the tested toluene effects. These observations: (1) demonstrate the direct toxic influence of toluene on ovarian cells, (2) demonstrate the ability of food/medicinal plants to either promote or mitigate toluene effects and (3) suggest that vitex could be a natural protector against the suppressive effect of toluene on female reproduction.

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and its constituent quercetin can suppress ovarian cell functions and their response to FSH

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis Brum. f) can directly influence female reproduction, but whether rooibos can influence the response of ovarian cells to FSH and whether the rooibos effects are due to the presence of quercetin remain unknown. We compared the influence of rooibos extract and quercetin (both at 10 µg/ml-1) on porcine ovarian granulosa cells cultured with and without FSH (0, 1, 10 or 100 ng/ml-1). The expression of intracellular proliferation (PCNA, cyclin B1) and apoptosis (bax, caspase 3) markers in the cells was detected by immunocytochemistry. The release of progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E) were evaluated with ELISAs. Administration of both rooibos and quercetin reduced the accumulation of proliferation markers and promoted the accumulation of apoptosis markers and the release of T and E. Rooibos stimulated, but quercetin inhibited, P output. Administration of FSH increased the accumulation of proliferation markers, decreased the accumulation of apoptosis markers, promoted the release of P and T, and had a biphasic effect on E output. The addition of both rooibos and quercetin mitigated or prevented the main effects of FSH. The present observations suggest a direct influence of both rooibos and quercetin on basic ovarian functions - proliferation, apoptosis, steroidogenesis and response to FSH. The similarity in the major effects of rooibos and its constituent quercetin indicates that quercetin could be the molecule responsible for the main rooibos effects on the ovary. The potential anti-reproductive effects of rooibos and rooibos constituent quercetin, should be taken into account in animal and human nutrition.

Ginkgo, fennel, and flaxseed can affect hormone release by porcine ovarian cells and modulate the effect of toluene

Experimental studies have documented the toxic effects of toluene on the mammalian female reproductive processes. The aim of this in vitro study was to examine the potential of functional food plant extracts, namely, of ginkgo, fennel, and flaxseed, in modifying the toluene-induced effects on ovarian hormone release. Porcine granulosa cells were incubated with ginkgo, fennel, or flaxseed extracts (0, 1, 10, or 100 µg/mL) and/or toluene (10 µg/mL). Enzyme immunoassays were used in order to measure the release of progesterone (P), oxytocin (OT), and prostaglandin F (PGF) in the culture media. Toluene suppressed the release of P and enhanced the release of OT and PGF. All tested plant extracts reduced P and increased OT release, while the PGF output was found inhibited by ginkgo and stimulated by fennel and flaxseed. When the cells were incubated with toluene and each one of the plant extracts, toluene was able to prevent their action on P release, as well as those of fennel and flaxseed on OT and PGF release. Moreover, ginkgo enhanced but fennel or flaxseed prevented the toluene-induced effects on OT and PGF release. These observations (i) document novel aspects of the toluene-induced toxicity; (ii) demonstrate the direct influence of ginkgo, fennel, and flaxseed extracts on the ovarian secretory activity; (iii) inform our understanding of the interrelationship between toluene and the tested plant extracts with regard to their effects on ovarian hormone release; (iiii) demonstrate the ability of fennel and flaxseed to prevent adverse effect of toluene on ovarian hormones.

Potential effets of ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba, L.) on female reproduction

This minireview will briefly outline the basic knowledge concerning the provenance, biological active constituents of ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba, L.) and its general health effects. Ginkgo has been shown to affect female reproductive functions: it can affect ovarian folliculo- and oogenesis, embryogenesis, promote ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis, reduce their proliferation and the release of ovarian hormones. Usually, ginkgo extract mainly suppresses, but its constituents like amifostine, leuprorelin, quercetin and kaempherol can promote ovarian functions. This may indicate the existence of anti-reproductive ginkgo constituent(s), such as ginkgolide B and allopregnenolone which, like ginkgo extract, can promote ovarian cell apoptosis and suppress ovarian follicullogenesis and oogenesis. Ginkgo effects could be mediated by an action on brain functions, ovarian steroidogenesis, oxidative processes, intracellular regulators of ovarian cell proliferation and apoptosis and GABA receptors. Ginkgo and its molecules, ginkgolide B and allopregnenolone can be useful for prevention and treatment of reproduction-related disorders like ovarian cancer, ovarian ischemia and menopausal syndrome. On the other hand, its constituents amifostine, leuprorelin, quercetin and kaempherol could be potentially applicable as biostimulators of female reproductive processes in human and veterinary medicine and animal production. Nevertheless, application of ginkgo is still limited by insufficient or contradictory knowledge concerning its active constituents, characters, targets and mediators of its action and their functional interrelationships. Impact of ginkgo action on reproductive organs other than ovaries remains largely unknown. Addressing these issues with proper animal and clinical studies could help to understand the distinct efficacy and consequences of medical application of ginkgo.

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) influence on health and ovarian functions

This paper reviews provenance, processing and properties of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis, Brum.f) and its numerous biologically active constituents, as well as the currently available knowledge concerning their physiological and medicinal effects and their possible extra- and intracellular mechanisms of action. Search for literature was performed in agreement with the preferred reporting items for systematic review criteria in Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases between the years 2000 and 2021. The limited number of in vitro studies suggests an influence of rooibos on basic ovarian cell functions, as well as its potential applicability to control female reproduction and prevent the effect of environmental contaminants on ovarian functions. Nevertheless, further studies are required for better understanding of the character and mechanisms of action, as well as of rooibos' application in reproductive biology and medicine.

Buckwheat, rooibos, and vitex extracts can mitigate adverse effects of xylene on ovarian cells in vitro

This study examines whether selected functional food and medicinal plants can mitigate the adverse effects of xylene on ovarian cells. The influences of xylene (0, 10, 100, or 1000 ng/mL), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), vitex (Vitex agnus-castus), extracts (10 μg/mL each), and a combination of xylene with these plant additives on cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells are compared. Cell viability, proliferation (PCNA accumulation), apoptosis (accumulation of bax), and release of progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) were analyzed by the trypan blue tests, quantitative immunocytochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Xylene suppressed all measures of ovarian cell function. Rooibos prevented all of xylene's effects, whereas buckwheat and vitex prevented four of five of the analyzed effects (buckwheat prevented xylene influence on viability, PCNA, bax, and E2; vitex prevented xylene action on viability, PCNA, and P4 and E2). These observations show that xylene has the potential to suppress ovarian cell functions, and that buckwheat, rooibos, and vitex can mitigate those effects, making them natural protectors against the adverse effects of xylene on ovarian cells.

Effects of benzene on gilts ovarian cell functions alone and in combination with buckwheat, rooibos, and vitex

We aimed to examine the influence of benzene and of three dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) plant extracts-buckwheat (Fagopyrum Esculentum), rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), and vitex, (Vitex Agnus-Castus), and the combination of benzene with these three plant extracts on basic ovarian cell functions. Specifically, the study investigated the influence of benzene (0, 10, 100, or 1000 ng/mL) with and without these three plant additives on porcine ovarian granulosa cells cultured during 2 days with and without these additives. Cell viability, proliferation (accumulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA), apoptosis (accumulation of Bcl-2-associated X protein , bax), and the release of progesterone (P) and estradiol (E) were analyzed by the Trypan blue test, quantitative immunocytochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Benzene reduced cell viability, as well as P and E release. Plant extracts, given alone, were able directly promote or suppress ovarian cell functions. Furthermore, buckwheat and rooibos, but not vitex prevented the inhibitory action of benzene on cell viability. Buckwheat induced the stimulatory action of benzene on proliferation. Rooibos and vitex promoted benzene effect on cell apoptosis. All these plant additives were able to promote suppressive action of benzene on ovarian steroidogenesis.These observations show that benzene may directly suppress ovarian cell viability, P, and E release and that buckwheat, rooibos, and vitex can directly influence ovarian cell functions and modify the effects of benzene-prevent toxic influence of benzene on cell viability and induce stimulatory action of benzene on ovarian cell proliferation, apoptosis, and steroidogenesis. The observed direct effects of benzene and these plants on ovarian cells functions, as well as the functional interrelationships of benzene and these plants, should be taken into account in their future applications.

Hormesis and Ginkgo biloba (GB): Numerous biological effects of GB are mediated via hormesis

Ginkgo biloba (GB) extracts have been shown to commonly induce biphasic dose responses in a range of cell types and endpoints (e.g., cochlea neural stem cells, cell viability, cell proliferation). The magnitude and width of the low dose stimulation of these biphasic dose responses are similar to those reported for hormetic dose responses. These hormetic dose responses occur within direct stimulatory responses as well as in preconditioning experimental protocols, displaying acquired resistance within an adaptive homeodynamic and temporal framework and repeated measurement protocols. The demonstrated GB dose responses further reflect the general occurrence of hormetic dose responses that consistently appear to be independent of the biological model, endpoint, inducing agent, and/or mechanism. These findings have important implications for consideration(s) of study designs involving dose selection, dose spacing, sample size, and statistical power. This illustrates and strengthens the need to characterize the low dose stimulatory response range and optimal dose in order to explore potential public health and clinical applications of plant-derived agents, such as GB.

Direct inhibitory effect of flaxseed on porcine ovarian granulosa cell functions

Flaxseed is useful as a functional food and alternative medicine owing to its beneficial health effects. Its action on ovarian cell functions and interrelationships with the upstream hormonal regulators remain unknown. Our aim was to examine the direct influence of flaxseed extract on basal porcine ovarian functions (proliferation, apoptosis), leptin release, and response to insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). First, we examined the effect of flaxseed extract on the accumulation of proliferation (PCNA) and apoptosis (Bax) markers and on leptin release in cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells. Next, granulosa cells were cultured with IGF-I with and without flaxseed extract and analyzed for PCNA and Bax accumulation by quantitative immunocytochemistry and for leptin release by radioimmunoassay. Flaxseed decreased the accumulation of PCNA and increased that of Bax at all doses and reduced leptin output at 100 μg/mL. In contrast, IGF-I promoted PCNA accumulation and suppressed Bax. Flaxseed did not modify IGF-I action on these parameters. Thus, we showed that flaxseed influences porcine reproductive processes, having a direct effect on the ovary and the ability to affect ovarian cell proliferation, apoptosis, and leptin release. Furthermore, we confirmed the pro-proliferative and antiapoptotic actions of IGF-I but showed that flaxseed action on ovarian cell proliferation and apoptosis is not due to changes in the cell response to IGF-I. The potential direct anti-reproductive action of flaxseed needs to be considered during its application in nutrition, medicine, and animal production.