Plant isoflavones can affect accumulation and impact of silver and titania nanoparticles on ovarian cells

Toxic effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on reproduction in mammals

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO₂) are widely used in food, textiles, coatings and personal care products; however, they cause environmental and health concerns. Nano-TiO₂ can accumulate in the reproductive organs of mammals in different ways, affect the development of the ovum and sperm, damage reproductive organs and harm the growth and development of offspring. The oxidative stress response in germ cells, irregular cell apoptosis, inflammation, genotoxicity and hormone synthesis disorder are the main mechanisms of nano-TiO₂ toxicity. Possible measures to reduce the harmful effects of nano-TiO₂ on humans and nontarget organisms have emerged as an underexplored topic requiring further investigation.

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.

Tribulus terrestris can suppress the adverse effect of toluene on bovine and equine ovarian granulosa cells

Influence of oil-related product toluene and herbal remedy puncturevine Tribulus terrestris L. (TT) on female reproduction is known. However, mechanisms of their action on ovaries in different species and potential protective effect of TT against adverse toluene action remain to be established. We studied effect of toluene, TT, and their combination on ovarian granulosa cells from two mammalian species (cows and horses). Viability, markers of proliferation (PCNA) and apoptosis (bax), steroid hormones, IGF-I, oxytocin, and prostaglandin F (PGF) release were analyzed by trypan blue exclusion test, quantitative immunocytochemistry, and EIA/ELISA. Toluene suppressed all analyzed parameters. In both species, TT stimulated proliferation and reduced progesterone, oxytocin, and PGF. In horses, TT inhibited testosterone and IGF-I. In both species, TT supported toluene effect on viability, steroids, IGF-I, and PGF, inverted its action on apoptosis. In cows, TT promoted toluene effect on proliferation. In horses, TT supported toluene effect on oxytocin but suppressed its influence on proliferation. In both species, toluene induced inhibitory action of TT on viability, steroids, IGF-I, and PGF, prevented its stimulatory action on proliferation. In cows, toluene supported inhibitory action of TT on oxytocin and prevented its stimulatory action on apoptosis. In horses, toluene induced stimulatory effect of TT on apoptosis. Our results indicate potential toxic toluene effect on farm animal ovaries, applicability of TT as a biostimulator of farm animal reproduction and as a protector against adverse influence of toluene on female reproduction.