Ovarian steroid hormone secretion by human granulosa cells after supplementation of sambucus nigra l. extract.

Beneficial effects of Sambucus nigra L. (black elder) as a traditional medicine have been associated with the phytoconstituents including polyphenols, terpenes and lectins. Various antioxidant rich natural products have also been implicated with improvement of reproductive health and fertility, however, the effect of Sambucus nigra on the ovarian cell functions has not been investigated yet. The objectives of the present study were to screen the polyphenols in the elderflower and elderberry extracts, and to examine the secretion activity of steroid hormones 17beta-estradiol and progesterone by human ovarian granulosa cells HGL5 after supplementation of the extracts at a concentration range of 12.5 to 100 microg.ml-1. Qualitative as well as quantitative screening of polyphenols by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) analysis revealed rutin to be the most abundant polyphenol in both elderflower and elderberry extracts. In culture, neither elderflower nor elderberry extract caused any significant impact (p>0.05) in cell viability as studied by AlamarBlue assay in comparison to control. However, a dose-dependent stimulation of 17beta-estradiol release was detected by ELISA after supplementation of elderflower (at 50 microg.ml-1; p<0.01) and elderberry (at 100 microg.ml-1; p<0.05) extracts at higher doses used in the study. On the other hand, both elderflower and elderberry extracts stimulated the secretion of progesterone by HGL5 cells at a lower dose (12.5 microg.ml-1; p<0.05), as compared to control. Therefore, elderflower and elderberry extracts may have the potential to regulate steroidogenesis in ovarian cells.

The anti-obesity and health-promoting effects of tea and coffee.

This paper reviews provenance, chemical composition and properties of tea (Camelia sinensis L.) and coffee (Coffee arabica, L. and Coffeacaniphora, L.), their general health effects, as well as the currently available knowledge concerning their action on fat storage, physiological mechanisms of their effects, as well as their safety and recommended dosage for treatment of obesity. Both tea and coffee possess the ability to promote health and to prevent, to mitigate and to treat numerous disorders. This ability can be partially due to presence of caffeine in both plants. Further physiological and medicinal effects could be explained by other molecules (theaflavins, catechins, their metabolites and polyphenols in tea and polyphenol chlorogenic acid in coffee). These plants and plant molecules can be efficient for prevention and treatment of numerous metabolic disorders including metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and obesity. Both plants and their constituents can reduce fat storage through suppression of adipocyte functions, and support of gut microbiota. In addition, tea can prevent obesity via reduction of appetite, food consumption and food absorption in gastrointestinal system and through the changes in fat metabolism.

Puncture vine (Tribulus Terrestris L.) in control of health and reproduction.

Tribulus terrestris, L. (puncture vine) have been used as a folk medicine for five thousands of years, but its targets, effects, their mechanisms and application requires further studies. This paper reviews the provenance, constituents and properties of Tribulus terrestris, L., its general physiological and health effects, as well as the currently available knowledge concerning its influence on male and female reproductive processes and their dysfunctions. Analysis of the available publications demonstrated the influence of Tribulus terrestris on a wide spectrum of targets and physiological processe and disorders. In particular, Tribulus terrestris can be a stimulator of male and female reproductive processes at the level of central nervous system, sexual behaviour, pituitary and gonadal hormones and their receptors, gonadal functions (including ovarian follicullogenesis and spermatogenesis), improvement of the quality and quantity of gametes (at least of sperm) and fecundity. This ability of puncture vine is applicable for the improvement of man's sexual desire and sperm quality in vivo and in vitro, as well as of women's libido, activation of women's reproductive organs, fecundity, and treatment of infertility, especially that related to the polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Ovarian steroid hormone secretion activity examined after supplementation of green tea extract.

This study aimed at examining the secretion activity of steroid hormones progesterone and 17beta-estradiol by porcine ovarian granulosa cells after addition of green tea extract. Granulosa cells were incubated with green tea extract (at doses of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 microg.ml(-1). Another set of cells were incubated with green tea extract at the above doses along with additional supplementation of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) at 10 microg.ml(-1). Release of hormones by granulosa cells was assessed by EIA after 24 h exposure. Secretion of steroid hormones was not affected either by green tea extract alone or after FSH supplementation with green tea extract. Results indicate that ovarian steroidogenesis is not affected by green tea under conditions used in the experiment.

Ellagitannins--compounds from pomegranate as possible effector in steroidogenesis of rabbit ovaries.

This study has observed possible effect of ellagitannins - compounds from pomegranate on process of steroidogenesis in ovaries. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible effect of punicalagin on secretion of steroid hormones - progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone and 17beta-estradiol by ovarian fragments of rabbits in vitro. Ovarian fragments from sexually mature female New Zealand white rabbits (n=20) were incubated without (control group) or with punicalagin at various doses 1, 10 and 100 microg.ml(-1) for 24 h. Hormones were evaluated by ELISA (The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Data showed that progesterone and 17beta-estradiol (but not androstenedione and testosterone) release by rabbit ovarian fragments was significantly affected by punicalagin addition at various doses. Punicalagin (at 100 microg.ml(-1)) significantly (P<0.05) increased progesterone secretion. On the other hand, the release of 17beta-estradiol was significantly (P<0.005) decreased by punicalagin addition (at 10 microg.ml(-1)). Our results suggest that punicalagin could have dose-dependent impact on secretion of steroid hormones progesterone and 17beta-estradiol by rabbit ovarian fragments and it may be effector in process of ovarian steroidogenesis.

Ricinus communis L. stem bark extracts regulate ovarian cell functions and secretory activity and their response to Luteinising hormone.

Ricinus communis L. has ethnopharmacological contraceptive reputation but its stem bark has unexplored mechanisms of action in female reproductive system. In the present study, the effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts from the stem bark of the plant was examined on basic porcine ovarian granulosa cell functions and its response to Luteinising hormone (LH)-the upstream hormonal regulator. Systemic treatment of methanolic and aqueous extracts stimulated cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA) and also promoted cell apoptosis (caspase-3). Aqueous extract has inverted the stimulatory effect of LH on PCNA but not on caspase-3. Methanolic extract stimulated as well as inhibited progesterone release and stimulated testosterone secretion. Whereas aqueous extract inhibited both steroid releases and suppressed the stimulatory effect of LH on progesterone release and promoted the inhibitory effect of LH on testosterone release. In conclusion, the present study unveils the mechanism of action of R. communis stem bark in in vitro condition. These suggest its possible contraceptive efficacy by exerting its regulatory role over LH and on basic ovarian cell functions and secretion activity.

Effects of the phytoestrogen, genistein, and protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor-dependent mechanisms on steroidogenesis and estrogen receptor expression in porcine granulosa cells of medium follicles.

The use of soy-based products in pig diets had raised concerns regarding the reproductive toxicity of genistein, the predominant isoflavone in soybeans. Genistein was reported to exhibit weak estrogenic activity but its mechanism of action is not fully recognized. The aim of the study was to examine the in vitro effects of genistein on (1) progesterone (P(4)) and estradiol (E(2)) secretion by porcine granulosa cells harvested from medium follicles, (2) the viability of cultured granulosa cells, and (3) the mRNA and protein expression of estrogen receptors α and ß (ERα and ERß) in these cells. In addition, to verify the role of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK)-dependent mechanisms possibly involved in genistein biological action, we tested the effects of lavendustin C, the nonsteroidal PTK inhibitor, on granulosa cell steroidogenesis. We found that genistein inhibited (P < 0.05) basal P(4) secretion by granulosa cells harvested from medium follicles of pigs. In contrast, lavendustin C did not affect basal P(4) secretion by the cells. Moreover, genistein increased (P < 0.05) basal granulosal secretion of E(2). In contrast, lavendustin C did not alter basal E(2) secretion by porcine granulosa cells. In addition, we demonstrated that genistein increased mRNA and protein expression of ERß (P < 0.05) in the examined cells. The expression of ERα mRNA was not affected by genistein and ERα protein was not detected in the cultured granulosa cells of pigs. In summary, the genistein action on follicular steroidogenesis in pigs involved changes in the granulosal expression of ERß. However, the genistein action on P(4) and E(2) production by granulosa cells harvested from medium follicles did not seem to be associated with PTK.

Consumption of bee pollen affects rat ovarian functions.

The aim of this study was to examine possible effects of bee pollen added to the feed mixture (FM) on rat ovarian functions (secretion activity and apoptosis). We evaluated the bee pollen effect on the release of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and steroid hormones (progesterone and estradiol), as well as on the expression of markers of apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3) in rat ovarian fragments. Female rats (n = 15) were fed during 90 days by FM without or with rape seed bee pollen in dose either 3 kg/1000 kg FM or 5 kg/1000 kg FM. Fragments of ovaries isolated from rats of each group (totally 72 pieces) were incubated for 24 h. Hormonal secretion into the culture medium was detected by RIA. The markers of apoptosis were evaluated by Western blotting. It was observed that IGF-I release by rat ovarian fragments was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased; on the other hand, progesterone and estradiol secretion was increased after bee pollen treatment at dose 5 kg/1000 kg FM but not at 3 kg/1000 FM. Accumulation of Bcl-2 was increased by bee pollen added at 3 kg/1000 kg FM, but not at higher dose. Accumulation of Bax was increased in ovaries of rats fed by bee pollen at doses either 3 or 5 kg/1000 kg FM, whilst accumulation of caspase-3 increased after feeding with bee pollen at dose 5 kg/1000 kg FM, but not at 3 kg/1000 kg FM. Our results contribute to new insights regarding the effect of bee pollen on both secretion activity (release of growth factor IGF-I and steroid hormones progesterone and estradiol) and apoptosis (anti- and pro-apoptotic markers Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3). Bee pollen is shown to be a potent regulator of rat ovarian functions.