Thymoquinone ameliorates bleomycin-induced reproductive toxicity in male Balb/c mice

Curcumin mitigates acrylamide-induced ovarian antioxidant disruption and apoptosis in female Balb/c mice: A comprehensive study on gene and protein expressions

Curcumin is known for its antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the impact of curcumin on acrylamide (ACR)-induced alterations in the first-line antioxidant defense of ovarian tissue. Female Balb/c mice were divided into control, ACR (50 mg/kg), ACR/CUR100 (received Acr + curcumin100 mg/kg), and ACR/CUR200 (Acr + curcumin 200 mg/kg) groups, and received oral treatments for 35 days. Evaluation of antioxidant enzyme expression (Sod, Cat, Gpx genes), pro-apoptotic gene expressions (Bax, Caspase 3), and anti-apoptotic gene expression (Bcl2l1) at mRNA and protein levels was done. Percentage of apoptotic cells using Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed. The model group (ACR) showed decreased mRNA expression of Sod, Cat, and Gpx genes compared with the control group. Treatment with two different doses of curcumin (CUR100 and CUR200) significantly increased Sod, Cat, and Gpx gene expression, with CUR200 demonstrating significant recovery. SOD, CAT, and GPX protein levels were similar to mRNA expression trends, significantly increased with curcumin administration. Acrylamide exposure significantly increased Bax and Caspase 3 expression and decreased Bcl2l1 gene expression leading to a notable rise in apoptosis in ACR group as compared to the control group. Conversely, curcumin administration, significantly reduced Bax and Caspase 3 expressions, with an increase in Bcl2l1expression, though not statistically significant. TUNEL assay revealed a substantial decrease in apoptosis in curcumin-received groups. In our study, ACR exposure adversely affected ovarian antioxidant defense thereby leading to increased pro-apoptotic markers. Notably, curcumin treatment effectively mitigated these effects, restored antioxidant potential, and reduced acrylamide-induced toxicity in female mouse ovaries.

The Effect of Thymoquinone on the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB Axis Against Cisplatin-İnduced Testicular Tissue Damage

One of the adverse effects of the antineoplastic drug cisplatin (CS) is damage to testicular tissue. This study aimed to examine the potential therapeutic effect of thymoquinone (TQ), a strong antioxidant, against testicular damage caused by CS. In the experiment, 28 rats were used, and the rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (n = 7), CS (n = 7), CS + TQ (n = 7), and TQ (n = 7). The experiment was called off after all treatments were finished on day 15. Blood serum and testicular tissues were utilized for biochemical, histological, immunohistochemical, mRNA expression, and gene protein investigations. The testosterone level decreased and oxidative stress, histopathological damage, dysregulation in mitochondrial dynamics, inflammation and apoptotic cells increased in testicular tissue due to CS administration. TQ supplementation showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects in response to CS-induced testicular damage. In addition, TQ contributed to the reduction of CS-induced toxic effects by regulating the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB pathway. TQ supplementation may be a potential therapeutic strategy against CS-induced testicular damage by regulating the TNF-α/OTULIN/NF-κB axis, inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

Supplementation of Thymoquinone Nanoparticles to Semen Extender Boosts Cryotolerance and Fertilizing Ability of Buffalo Bull Spermatozoa

Thymoquinone nanoparticles (TQNPs) are broadly utilized in numerous pharmaceutical applications. In the present study, we tested the effects of TQNP supplementation on sperm quality and kinematics, acrosome exocytosis, oxidative biomarkers, apoptosis-like and morphological changes of frozen-thawed buffalo sperm, as well as the fertilizing capacity. Semen was collected from buffalo bulls, diluted (1:10; semen/extender), and divided into five aliquots comprising various concentrations of TQNP 0 (CON), 12.5 (TQNP12.5), 25 (TQNP25), 37.5 (TQNP37.5), and 50 (TQNP50) µg/mL, and then cryopreserved and stored in liquid nitrogen (-196 °C). The results revealed that TQNPs (25 to 50 µg/mL) provided the most optimal results in terms of membrane integrity (p < 0.001) and progressive motility (p < 0.01). In contrast, TQNP50 resulted in a greater post-thawed sperm viability (p = 0.02) compared with other groups. The addition of TQNPs to the extender had no discernible effects on sperm morphology measures. Sperm kinematic motion was significantly improved in the TQNP50 group compared to the control group (p < 0.01). TQNPs effectively reduced the content of H2O2 and MDA levels and improved the total antioxidant capacity of post-thawed extended semen (p < 0.01). The addition of TQNP significantly increased the number of intact acrosomes (p < 0.0001) and decreased the number of exocytosed acrosomes (p < 0.0001). A significant reduction in apoptosis-like changes was observed in TQNP groups. The non-return rates of buffalo cows inseminated with TQNP50-treated spermatozoa were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05; 88% vs. 72%). These findings suggested that the freezing extender supplemented with TQNPs could effectively enhance the cryotolerance and fertility of buffalo sperm.

Thymoquinone improves folliculogenesis, sexual hormones, gene expression of apoptotic markers and antioxidant enzymes in polycystic ovary syndrome rat model

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent cause of infertility affecting women of reproductive age around the world. Thymoquinone is a natural antioxidant, derived from Nigella sativa.

OBJECTIVES

The current study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of thymoquinone on the detrimental effects of PCOS rats induced with letrozole.

METHODS

Thirty-two female rats were randomly divided into four groups: (1) Control, (2) PCOS, (3) PCOS+5 mg/kg thymoquinone and (4) PCOS+10 mg/kg thymoquinone. Thymoquinone was administered every 3 days for 30 days. Ovaries were histopathologically and stereologically examined, and antioxidant and apoptotic enzymes gene expression in ovaries and sex hormones in serum were measured.

RESULTS

The number of unilaminar, multilaminar, antral, and graffian follicles, volume density of corpus luteum (p < 0.01), and GPx1 gene expression in ovaries and level of FSH in the blood increased in both thymoquinone groups when compared to untreated PCOS (p < 0.05). Ovaries in thymoquinone groups showed a significant reduction in the number of atretic follicles, ovary weight and volume, volume density of cortex and ovarian cysts, Bax gene expression (p < 0.01) and Bax/Bcl2 ratio as well as levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/FSH ratio and testosterone (p < 0.05) in the blood of female rats when compared to PCOS group. Administration of thymoquinone restored the most detrimental effects of PCOS on ovaries (p < 0.01) and sexual hormones (p < 0.05) in rats.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that thymoquinone has improved effects on ovarian function in the PCOS rat model. Therefore, thymoquinone might be useful as a protective agent and adjunct treatment in PCOS patients.

The antioxidant properties of resveratrol on sperm parameters, testicular tissue, antioxidant capacity, and lipid peroxidation in isoflurane-induced toxicity in mice

This study explores whether resveratrol effectively protects the reproductive system against isoflurane-induced toxicity in testicular tissue. In this experiment, we randomly divided 60 adult male C57BL/6 mice into six groups (n = 10). Five consecutive days per week, mice were exposed to 1.5% isoflurane for 1 h/day and were given 50 and 100 mg/kg resveratrol. After 35 days (the completion of the mouse spermatogenesis period), the left testis was removed for histomorphometric evaluations, while the right testis was used to determine the Capacity of total antioxidants and lipid peroxidation. To analyze the Parameters of sperm, chromatin maturation, and DNA fragmentation, the left caudal epididymis was used. Based on a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), we considered a difference in means of 0.05 to be significant (P0.05). Compared to the control group, the isoflurane group showed a significant decrease in testicular weight, volume, sperm parameters, and tissue histomorphometry. Comparatively, to the control group, malondialdehyde levels increased, and the total antioxidant capacity decreased significantly. Resveratrol improved all of the above parameters in the simultaneous treatment groups compared to the isoflurane group. It did not, however, reach the level of the control group in all cases. It has been demonstrated that resveratrol, with its powerful antioxidant properties, reduces the reproductive toxicity of isoflurane by inhibiting free radicals and increasing the testicular tissue's antioxidant capacity.

DNA damage and reticular stress in cytotoxicity and oncotic cell death of MCF-7 cells treated with fluopsin C

Fluopsin C is an antibiotic compound derived from secondary metabolism of different microorganisms, which possesses antitumor, antibacterial, and antifungal activity. Related to fluopsin C antiproliferative activity, the aim of this study was to examine the following parameters: cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, cell death induction (apoptosis), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), colony formation, and mRNA expression of genes involved in adaptive stress responses and cellular death utilizing a monolayer. In addition, a three-dimensional cell culture was used to evaluate the effects on growth of tumor spheroids. Fluopsin C was cytotoxic (1) producing cell division arrest in the G₁ phase, (2) elevating expression of mRNA of the CDKN1A gene and (3) decrease in expression of mRNA H2AFX gene. Further, fluopsin C enhanced DNA damage as evidenced by increased expression of mRNA of GADD45A and GPX1 genes, indicating that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be involved in the observed genotoxic response. Reticulum stress was also detected as noted from activation of the ribonuclease inositol-requiring protein 1 (IRE1) pathway, since a rise in mRNA expression of the ERN1 and TRAF2 genes was observed. During the cell death process, an increase in mRNA expression of the BBC3 gene was noted, indicating participation of this antibiotic in oncotic (ischemic) cell death. Data thus demonstrated for the first time that fluopsin C interferes with the volume of tumor spheroids, in order to attenuate their growth. Our findings show that fluopsin C modulates essential molecular processes in response to stress and cell death.