The Root Aqueous Extract of Entada africana Guill. et Perr. (Mimosaceae) Inhibits Implant Growth, Alleviates Dysmenorrhea, and Restores Ovarian Dynamic in a Rat Model of Endometriosis

Murine Models and Research Progress on Dysmenorrhea

Dysmenorrhea is a prevalent gynecological disease among women at reproductive age. It is classified as the primary dysmenorrhea and the secondary dysmenorrhea according to the etiology. The primary dysmenorrhea is caused by uterine hypercontraction without any identifiable pelvic lesions, while the secondary dysmenorrhea is incurred by gynecological disorder with pelvic organic lesions. However, the underlying mechanism of dysmenorrhea is not completely clear. Animal models of dysmenorrhea, especially mouse and rat model, are helpful to explore the pathophysiological mechanism of dysmenorrhea, clarify the therapeutic effect of compounds, and guide clinical treatment. The murine model of primary dysmenorrhea is commonly induced by oxytocin or prostaglandin F_2α, while the secondary dysmenorrhea murine model was further created by injecting oxytocin on the basis of the established primary disease model. This review summarizes the current progress of dysmenorrhea models in rodent, including experimental methods, corresponding evaluation indexes, and the advantages and disadvantages of various murine dysmenorrhea models, in order to provide a reference for the selection of murine dysmenorrhea models and the further study of the pathophysiological mechanism of dysmenorrhea.

Ethnomedicinal Information on Plants Used for the Treatment of Bone Fractures, Wounds, and Sprains in the Northern Region of the Republic of Benin

Medicinal plants are frequently used in African countries due to their importance in the treatment of various conditions. In the northern Republic of Benin, traditional healers are recognized as specialists in the treatment of fractures, wounds, and sprains. The present study was conducted to document the practices (diagnosis and materials) and traditional knowledge accumulated by healers in this region on their area of specialty. In addition, literature-based research was performed to support the usage of the most cited plants. Sixty traditional healers identified as "reference persons" from Atakora and Donga departments in the northern Republic of Benin, who specialized in the treatment of fractures, wounds, and sprains, were interviewed in their communities through a semi-structured questionnaire. Information about the practice, age of the healers, medicinal plants used in this treatment, methods of preparation, and administration were collected. Samples of the plant species were also collected, identified, and stored in the national herbarium at the University of Abomey-Calavi, the Republic of Benin. The study enabled the identification of thirty-four (34) species belonging to twenty-three (23) families. Ochna rhizomatosa and Ochna schweinfurthiana (21%) were the most quoted plants among the species, followed by Chasmanthera dependens (12.1%), Piliostigma thonningii (11.3%), and Combretum sericeum (8.1%). These plants were reported to strengthen bones, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and promote healing in the northern part of the Republic of Benin. Besides their ability to treat fractures, wounds, and sprains, they are also used for multiple purposes in the West African subregions. According to the available literature, some of the plants will need to be investigated for their phytoconstituents and pharmacological activity to validate their ethnobotanical uses. These results confirm the need for documenting traditional knowledge since it represents an opportunity for exploring plant species with potentially good pharmacological effects, which have been barely investigated. Plants identified may constitute a significant source of bioactive compounds in the treatment of various ailments such as skin inflammation and musculoskeletal disorders. They can be further explored to justify their use in traditional Beninese medicine.

The effectiveness of antioxidant therapy (vitamin C) in an experimentally induced mouse model of ovarian endometriosis

Objectives:

This study investigates the therapeutic effect of vitamin C on the development of endometrial lesions and fecundity disorders in the ovarian induction model of mouse endometriosis.

Methods:

Ovarian endometriosis was surgically induced in 14 NMRI female mice (treatment group, N = 7) and (control group, N = 7). Three days after the second surgery (to assess endometriotic implant), the mice were randomized into two intervention groups: control (placebo) and treatment (50 mg/kg vitamin C every two days orally for four weeks) groups. In the oestrus phase, the mice were sacrificed. In macroscopic assessment, endometriotic implants were evaluated in size, volume, weight, growth score and adhesion score. The microscopic assessment examined the ovarian tissue (the number of antral follicles, corpus luteum and atretic follicles) and endometriotic lesion (histologic and trichrome fibrosis scores).

Results:

Post-treatment implant volume, growth score, adhesion extent score and adhesion severity score were significantly lower in the treatment group (vitamin C) in comparison with the control group (placebo) (p < 0.0001). The difference between the median weight of endometriotic implants, epithelialization of implant tissue, trichrome fibrosis scores and follicle number in the two groups (treatment and control) was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Atretic follicles were significantly decreased after vitamin C therapy (p < 0.05). Although the numbers of corpus luteum seemed to be more preserved in specimens from the control group, there was no statistical significance between the two groups’ histological scores.

Conclusion:

As a result, we may imply that vitamin C has a significant effect on reducing the induction and growth of endometrial implants, improving the fecundity function of ovaries, and consequently prevention of endometriosis-associated cancers. Further research is needed to improve targeted interventions resulting in the prevention and treatment of human endometriosis.

The leaf aqueous extract of Myrianthus arboreus P. Beauv. (Cecropiaceae) improved letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome associated conditions and infertility in female Wistar rats

BACKGROUND

Myrianthus arboreus P. Beauv. (Cecropiaceae) is a medicinal plant used to treat female infertility. The aqueous extract of M. arboreus leaves was found to improve the fertility of healthy female Wistar rats. In the present study, we proposed evaluating the effects of such an extract on an animal model of infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in order to bring scientific evidence to the curative action of this plant against female infertility.

METHODS

Following a 21-day administration (gavage) of letrozole (1 mg/kg), animals with PCOS, indicated by overweight and an estrous cycle blocked in the diestrus phase, were co-treated with letrozole (1 mg/kg) and the aqueous extract of M. arboreus leaves at doses of 20, 110 and 200 mg/kg. The positive control received clomiphene citrate (1 mg/kg) and metformin (200 mg/kg). The negative control received distilled water. Each group of animals was made up of 10 female rats. Vaginal smear was examined 7 days before and during co-treatments. Co-treatments were orally administered for 30 consecutive days and 5 animals per group were sacrificed thereafter for biochemical and histological analyses. The 5 remaining animals in each group were crossbred with males of proven fertility for 5 consecutive days. The daily examination of vaginal smears allowed evaluating fertility index. Following parturition, gestation rate was calculated.

RESULTS

The aqueous extract of M. arboreus leaves reversed letrozole effects by decreasing body weight, abdominal fat accumulation, and serum levels of LH and testosterone (p < 0.001). Ovarian dynamic was improved and the number of tertiary, Graafian follicles (p < 0.001) and corpus luteum increased while that of cystic (p < 0.001) and atretic follicles (p < 0.01) decreased. These effects were associated with increased serum levels of estradiol, decreased ovarian oxidative stress, the resumption of the estrous cycle, the hypertrophy of uterine epithelial cells and increased fertility index and gestation rate.

CONCLUSIONS

These results justify at least in part, the traditional use of M. arboreus against female infertility and suggest that this plant could be a promising alternative treatment to improve symptoms associated with different PCOS phenotypes.

The Ethanol Extract of Avocado (Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae)) Seeds Successfully Induces Implant Regression and Restores Ovarian Dynamic in a Rat Model of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease with conventional therapies which do not have desirable effectiveness and possess many side effects. Scientific evidences suggest that medicinal plants with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and/or antiproliferative properties are potential alternatives for the treatment of endometriosis. The ethanol extract of Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae) seeds was found exhibiting antiproliferative properties in vitro and in vivo. This study therefore is aimed at investigating the effects of such an extract on an experimental model of endometriosis. Endometriosis was induced by grafting uterine fragments onto the peritoneum of female Wistar rats. After checking the success of the transplantation surgery, animals with endometriosis were orally treated with the ethanol extract of P. americana seeds at the doses of 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg. The positive control was treated with letrozole (10 mg/kg) while the negative control received the vehicle. Treatments lasted 7 days and animals were sacrificed thereafter. Endometrial implant volume was determined. Estradiol and progesterone levels were measured in serum samples and endometriosis lesions. The oxidative status of endometriosis lesions was evaluated. Histological analysis of endometriosis lesions, uterus, and ovaries was also performed. Results showed that the ethanol extract of P. americana seeds decreased endometrial implant volume (p < 0.001) and serum levels of estradiol and progesterone (p < 0.01). The levels of estradiol also decreased in endometriosis lesions at doses of 12.5 and 50 mg/kg (p < 0.001). Both malondialdehyde and glutathione levels increased in endometriosis lesions (p < 0.001). The ectopic endometrium height decreased and the number of antral follicles and corpora lutea (p < 0.05) increased while that of luteinized unruptured follicles decreased (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the ethanol extract of P. americana seeds displayed an antiendometriosis effect suggesting that it could be a potential alternative for the treatment of endometriosis.

The phytochemical and pharmacological actions of Entada africana Guill. & Perr

Entada africana (Ea, Asteraceae) has been widely used traditionally to treat different ailments, as food, insecticides, source of gums, in some small carpentry works. Studies on the pharmacognostic characterization, nutritional, elemental and physicochemical contents has been reported. In vivo and in vitro studies on the plant validated some ethnomedicinal claims of the use of the plant as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-angiogenic, cytotoxic agents among others. Triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids and sugars were reported as bioactive constituents which might be responsible for the aforementioned pharmacological actions of the plant. However, more researches are required in order to isolate bioactive compounds from the different parts of Ea and evaluate their effects on different ailments.

Soy Intake Since the Prepubertal Age May Contribute to the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis in Adulthood

High prevalence of endometriosis was reported in Asian women as a result of their traditionally high intake of soy foods during infancy. Soy is widely used in infant feeding after weaning from breast milk or cow milk. This study thus aimed to determine to what extent soy intake before puberty may contribute to the development of endometriosis. For this purpose, immature (6-week old) female rats were fed with various soy formulas (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60%). Normal control animals were fed with a soy-free diet. At 13 weeks of age, animals (except the normal control) underwent a transplantation surgery to establish endometriosis. Estradiol valerate and oxytocin were used to induce pelvic pain. Endometrial implant levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) allowed estimating tissue oxidative status. Physiological ovarian function was assessed by histological analysis of ovaries. Results showed that soy-fed animals grew faster than animals receiving a soy-free diet (P < .001). In animals supplemented with more than 10% of soy, the intensity of pelvic pain increased (P < .001) as well as the volume of ectopic foci. In addition, tissue levels of MDA and GSH increased (P < .001). The ovarian function was altered and the number of luteinized unruptured follicles increased. In conclusion, although animals supplemented with soy at the prepubertal stage displayed a good growth performance, regular soy consumption may promote the development and progress of endometriosis in adulthood, especially when soy content in food is more than 10%.