Effect of Citrullus colocynthis hydro-alcoholic extract on hormonal and folliculogenesis process in estradiol valerate-induced PCOs rats model: An experimental study

Pathophysiology of obesity-related infertility and its prevention and treatment by potential phytotherapeutics

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease in which the accumulation of excess body fat has adverse health effects, as it can increase the risk of several problems, including infertility, in both men and women. Obesity and infertility have risen together in recent years. Against this background, the present review aims to highlight the impact of obesity on infertility and the underlying pathophysiology of obesity-related infertility (ORI) in men and women, and to provide readers with knowledge of current trends in the effective development of phytotherapeutics for its treatment.

METHODS

We thoroughly searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, and Google Scholar to find all relevant papers on ORI and the therapeutic effects of phytotherapeutics on ORI in men and women.

RESULTS

The extensive search of the available literature revealed that obesity affects reproductive function through several complex mechanisms such as hyperlipidaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, hyperandrogenism, increased body mass index, disruption of the hormonal milieu, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, alterations in epigenetics and dysbiosis. On the other hand, several studies reported that phytotherapeutics has a broad therapeutic spectrum of action by improving sex hormone homeostasis, ovarian dysfunction, menstrual cycle and inhibiting ovarian hyperplasia, as well as down-regulating ovarian apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress, and controlling metabolic dysfunction in obese women. Male infertility is also addressed by phytotherapeutics by suppressing lipogenesis, increasing testosterone, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD levels, improving sperm parameters and attenuating testicular dyslipidaemia, oxidative stress, inflammation and germ cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present review, we discussed the effects of obesity on reproductive dysfunction in men and women and the underlying pathophysiology of ORI. In addition, the therapeutic effect of phytotherapeutics against ORI was highlighted.

Phytochemical-Based Study of Ethanolic Extract of Saraca asoca in Letrozole-Induced Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in Female Adult Rats

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex metabolic and endocrine disorder which affects women of reproductive age. It is a condition in which ovaries produce an excessive amount of androgen (the male sex hormone). Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Willd. is a plant of the Fabaceae family. This plant has been traditionally used as a uterine tonic in leucorrhea and dysmenorrhea due to its various pharmacological activities. In this study, the ethanolic extract of S. asoca (EESA) was evaluated for its potential to be used for the management of PCOS. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents: kaempferol, rutin, (-)-epicatechin, salicylic acid, and gallic acid. For PCOS induction, 30 adult female rats were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (n = 5) and the PCOS group (n = 25). Letrozole (1 mg/kg/day) was administered per orally (p.o.) for a period of 7 weeks for the induction of disease. Weekly body weight measurements and daily vaginal cytology examinations were performed for disease confirmation. After disease induction, the PCOS group was further divided into five groups (n = 5), that is, disease control, metformin, and EESA (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg) groups, respectively, and given treatment doses for next 5 weeks. After the treatment period, all animals were weighed and euthanized humanly. Blood samples were collected for hormonal assays, lipid profiles, and liver function tests. For histological assessment of ovarian cysts, ovaries were dissected. Livers were preserved to evaluate EESA's antioxidant properties. Histopathology analysis revealed that EESA reduced body weight and the number of cystic follicles. Furthermore, it also lowered the elevated levels of serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, insulin, and malonaldehyde in PCOS rats while increasing the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, progesterone, prolactin, and other antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase. It can be concluded that EESA exhibited beneficial effects in normalizing the perturbed hormonal profile and improved the ovary status by decreasing the cystic follicle and improving the ovulation status in a dose-dependent manner.

Apoptotic Cell Death via Activation of DNA Degradation, Caspase-3 Activity, and Suppression of Bcl-2 Activity: An Evidence-Based Citrullus colocynthis Cytotoxicity Mechanism toward MCF-7 and A549 Cancer Cell Lines

The objectives of this study are to investigate the cytotoxic effect of different Citrullus colocynthis extracts on breast and lung cancer cell lines using flow cytometry to gain mechanistic insights. C. colocynthis was extracted sequentially using the Soxhlet method. We first tested the plant extracts’ cytotoxicity on non-malignant L929 cells and cancerous breast (MCF-7) and lung (A549) cell lines. We observed that the IC50 of the methanol extract on the viability of MCF-7 and A549 cell lines was 81.08 µg/mL and 17.84 µg/mL, respectively, using the MTT assay. The aqueous and methanol extracts were less toxic when tested against the non-cancerous L929 cell line, with IC50 values of 235.48 µg/mL and 222.29 µg/mL, respectively. Then, using flow cytometry, we investigated the underlying molecular pathways with Annexin-V, Anti-Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) assays. Flow cytometric and molecular marker analyses revealed that the methanol extract activated caspase-3 and inhibited Bcl-2 protein, causing early and late apoptosis, as well as cell death via DNA damage in breast and lung cancer cells. These findings indicate that the methanol extract of C. colocynthis is cytotoxic to breast and lung cancer cell lines. The total phenolic and flavonoid content analysis results showed the methanolic extract of C. colocynthis has a concentration of 326.25 μg GAE/g dwt and 274.61 μg QE/g dwt, respectively. GC-MS analysis of the methanol extract revealed phytochemicals relevant to its cytotoxicity.

Ulmus minor bark hydro-alcoholic extract ameliorates histological parameters and testosterone level in an experimental model of PCOS rats

Objective. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and multifactorial disease associated with female factor infertility. Ulmus minor bark (UMB) is one of the medicinal plants used in Persian folklore as a fertility enhancer. In the current study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of UMB hydro-alcoholic extract on histological parameters and testosterone condition in an experimental model of PCOS rats.

Methods. Thirty female rats were randomly divided into five groups: (1) control, (2) vehicle, (3) PCOS/50 mg [6 mg/kg dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) + 50 mg/kg UMB hydro-alcoholic extract], (4) PCOS/150 mg (6 mg/kg DHEA + 150 mg/kg UMB hydro-alcoholic extract), and (5) PCOS (6 mg/kg DHEA). All interventions were performed for 21 days. Afterwards, stereological analysis was done for determination of ovarian volume and follicle number. The serum level of testosterone was measured by ELISA kit.

Results. UMB hydro-alcoholic extract improved the total number of the corpus luteum in the treatment groups when compared to the PCOS group (p<0.05). PCOS/150 mg and PCOS/50 mg groups showed significantly lower total number of the primordial, primary, and secondary follicles as well as testosterone level compared to the PCOS group (p<0.05). The total number of antral follicles and volume of ovary did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusion. UMB extract may be an effective and good alternative in improving PCOS histo-logical and testosterone disturbances although further studies are warranted to confirm the safety of UMB plant in human.