Overview of biological effects of Quercetin on ovary.

Over the last few decades, using natural products has been increased to treat different diseases. Today, great attention has been pointed toward the usage of natural products such as flavonoids, especially Quercetin (QUR), in the treatment of diseases. QUR as a natural antioxidant has been traditionally used to prevent or treat a variety of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity, chronic inflammation, and reproductive system dysfunction. Several studies demonstrated that QUR acts as an anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anticancer agent. With this in view, in this study, we intended to describe an overview of the biological effects of QUR on the ovary. QUR improves the quality of oocytes and embryos. It affects the proliferation and apoptosis and decreases the oxidative stress in granulosa cells (GCs). Furthermore, QUR can be used as a complementary and alternative therapy in ovarian cancer and it has beneficial effects in the treatment of PCOS patients. It seems that QUR as a supplementary factor has different activities for the treatment of different disorders and it also has bidirectional activities. However, further investigations are needed for understanding the efficacy of QUR in the treatment and improvement of gynecological patients.

The Effects of Fenugreek on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading causes of mortality across the world. Some earlier studies have revealed the beneficial effects of fenugreek on the risk factors for CVDs. However, a systematic review and meta-analysis is needed to clarify its effectiveness. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to assess the impacts of fenugreek on several cardiometabolic risk factors in adult populations. Four electronic databases including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched from 2000 to 31 July 2019 to identify studies with English language. Controlled clinical trials on fenugreek reported at least one of cardiometabolic risk factors was included. Pooled effect sizes were reported as Weighted Mean Differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Trials were pooled using a random effect model with DerSimonian and Laird method. Finally, out of 2738 publications, 12 articles were included in the meta-analysis. We found that fenugreek seed vs. placebo can reduce FBS (WMD: -12.94 mg/dL, 95%CI: -21.39 mg/dL, -4.49; I2: 85.0%, p heterogeneity = 0.0001), HbA1c (WMD: -0.58%%, 95% CI: -0.99, -0.17%; I2:0%, p heterogeneity =0.61), total cholesterol (WMD:-9.13 mg/dL, 95% CI: -13.83, -4.43; I2:0, p heterogeneity = 0.48), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD:-11.11 mg/dL, 95% CI: -20.32, -1.90; I2:1.41%, p heterogeneity = 0.36). However, no significant changes were observed in other cardiometabolic parameters. Fenugreek seed as an adjuvant therapy may reduce serum levels of FBS, LDL-C and HbA1c. However, due to high heterogeneity in glycemic status, findings must be interpreted with great caution. More placebo-controlled clinical trials are warranted to further assess the effectiveness of fenugreek as a complementary therapy to control cardio-metabolic risk factors.

The impact of cinnamon on anthropometric indices and glycemic status in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is some evidence regarding the positive effects of cinnamon on metabolic status in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, they are conflicting. In the present study, we aimed to systematically review the effects of cinnamon on glycemic status and anthropometric indices in patients with T2DM. METHODS: Five electronic databases including PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Sciences, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were searched until 31 February 2018 with no language limitation. Randomized clinical trials that examined the effects of cinnamon on at least fasting blood sugar (FBS) were included. Other glycemic parameters and anthropometric indices were also extracted. A random effects model with DerSimonian and Laird method was used for pooling the effect sizes. RESULTS: Finally, 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Supplementation with cinnamon reduced FBS by -19.26 mg/dL (95% CI: -28.08, -10.45; I2:96.5%; p = 0.0001) compared to placebo. However, the effects of cinnamon on HbA1C (-0.24%; 95% CI: -0.48, -0.01; I2: 76.8%, p = 0.0001), body weight (-0.46, 95%CI: -1.87, 2.30; I2:0%; p = 0.79), body mass index (WMD: -0.05 kg/m2; 95% CI: -0.52, 0.42; I2: 0%; p = 0.91), and waist circumference (WMD: -0.53 cm; 95% CI: -3.96, 2.81; I2: 0%; p = 0.66) were not significant. Additionally, cinnamon did not change the serum levels of insulin and insulin resistance significantly. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with cinnamon can reduce serum levels of glucose with no changes in other glycemic parameters and anthropometric indices. However, due to high heterogeneity findings should be interpreted with great caution.

Is laser acupuncture an effective complementary therapy for obesity management? A systematic review of clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Complementary therapies may increase the success rate of weight loss via a calorie-restricted diet. Acupuncture is a popular complementary therapy for obesity management. To our knowledge, no studies have summarised the effects of laser acupuncture (LA) on obesity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of LA, in particular with respect to its impact on anthropometric features and appetite in obese adults, by conducting a systematic review of previous clinical trials. METHODS: We searched PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase and Google Scholar electronic databases for papers published through October 2016. All clinical trials in English containing either anthropometric indices or appetite parameters were included. Two reviewers independently examined studies based on a predefined form for data extraction and the Jadad scale for quality assessment in order to minimise bias throughout the evaluation. RESULTS: After screening the papers, seven clinical trials met the criteria and were included in the systematic review. Positive effects of LA therapy were seen in body weight (n=3), body mass index (n=5), waist circumference (n=4), hip circumference (n=3), waist to hip ratio (n=4) and % fat mass (n=3). Appetite parameters were reported in one study, which showed that LA can reduce appetite and increase the sensation of feeling full. CONCLUSION: Although some studies have indicated beneficial effects for LA on obesity, the lack of evidence with high methodological quality made it impossible to reach a definitive conclusion about the efficacy of LA for obesity management. Further high-quality, randomised, sham-controlled clinical trials with a larger sample size are needed to shed light on the efficacy of LA for obesity management and weight maintenance.