Evaluation of Matcha (Camellia sinensis) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Efficacy Against Utero-Ovarian Injury in Rats.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Female infertility and reproductive problems have increased worldwide. Medical treatment of such conditions has high costs with various side effects. Alternative medicine, essentially herbal plants, has been projecting to improve female infertility and reproductive health. This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of single or combined administration of matcha and ashwagandha teas against H₂O₂-induced Utero-ovarian oxidative injury and cell death in female rats. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Fifty adult female rats were used. Ten rats were kept healthy while in others Utero-ovarian oxidative injury was induced by drinking 1% H₂O₂ water <i>ad libitum</i>. Injured rats were divided into 4 groups (10 rats/each), one group set as injured control and the other 3 groups the doses of supplemented teas were 200 mg kg¹ b.wt. and 100 mg kg¹ b.wt. from each or both teas, respectively. <b>Results:</b> The results displayed that both teas contain active components including flavonoids, polyphenols and possess antioxidant activity. Drinking 1% H₂O₂ water significantly (p<u><</u>0.01)decreased the estrous cycle time, body, ovary and uterus weights, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone and estrogen (E2) levels, uterine and ovarian superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) level while caused a substantial increase (p<u><</u>0.01) in uterine and ovarian malondialdehyde (MDA) level, DNA fragmentation percent, caspase-3 (Casp-3), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels as well as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity. Moreover, microscopic observations of uterine and ovarian tissues were consistent with the biochemical results. <b>Conclusion:</b> Oral administration of tested teas improved and ameliorated all the biochemical and microscopic observations by restricting cellular DNA damage and protecting uterine and ovarian tissues from oxidative injury and cell death. The best improvement was observed in the matcha administered group.

Estradiol regulates brown adipose tissue thermogenesis via hypothalamic AMPK.

Estrogens play a major role in the modulation of energy balance through central and peripheral actions. Here, we demonstrate that central action of estradiol (E2) inhibits AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) through estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) selectively in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH), leading to activation of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) through the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in a feeding-independent manner. Genetic activation of AMPK in the VMH prevented E2-induced increase in BAT-mediated thermogenesis and weight loss. Notably, fluctuations in E2 levels during estrous cycle also modulate this integrated physiological network. Together, these findings demonstrate that E2 regulation of the VMH AMPK-SNS-BAT axis is an important determinant of energy balance and suggest that dysregulation in this axis may account for the common changes in energy homeostasis and obesity linked to dysfunction of the female gonadal axis.

Falla ovárica en una yegua de paso fi no colombiano:tratamiento combinado homeopático antihomotóxicoy hormonal: reporte de un caso / Fracasso ovário em uma égua de passo colombiano: manipulação homeopática antihomotoxicae hormonal combinada: reporte de um caso / Ovulation failure in a Colombian Paso fino Mare: A combined antihomotoxic homeopathic therapy and hormonal treatment: a case report

La falla ovulatoria es una de las principales causas de infertilidad en yeguas cíclicas. En el presentecaso, se describe el seguimiento de una yegua nulípara de paso fino colombiano de seis años que ingresóa consulta para ser sometida a reproducción. Al examen ecográfico se le halló el ovario izquierdo de 15x 13 cm con una estructura patológica de aspecto anecóico y contenido líquido de 13 x 11 cm, el ovarioderecho sin estructuras y el útero flácido. La yegua fue sometida a tratamiento con antihomotóxicos deltipo Ovarium compositum®, Damiana injeel®, Cerebrum compositum®, y Phosphor hommacord® durante1½ mes, y terapia FK (terapia neural, dos en 15 días), lo cual disminuyó el tamaño del folículo y delovario, indujo ablandamiento de la pared folicular y leve respuesta uterina. Un mes y medio después,el ovario izquierdo tenía 13 x 11 cm y un folículo de 9 x 8 cm, y el ovario derecho estaba multifolicular.Las concentraciones de progesterona, estradiol y testosterona eran características de anestro. La yeguafue tratada con eCG (3.000 UI/3 días, i.v.), cuatro días después la progesterona ascendió a 14.91 ng/dl, el examen ecográfico reveló un cuerpo lúteo en el ovario izquierdo y a los siete días fue tratada conPGF2α (9 μg/kg/2 días) intramuscular. Cinco días después la yegua presentó estro, fue inseminada y tuvouna gestación que perdió a los 40 días; luego presentó un nuevo estro a los 20 días, fue inseminada, sele confirmó gestación a los 20 días y tuvo una gestación a término con un potro viable al momento del parto. Este caso sugiere la posibilidad de combinar terapia hormonal con medicina alternativa para eltratamiento de algunos tipos de anormalidades en el funcionamiento ovárico en las yeguas.parto. Este caso sugiere la posibilidad de combinar terapia hormonal con medicina alternativa para eltratamiento de algunos tipos de anormalidades en el funcionamiento ovárico en las yeguas.

Ovulation failure is one of the most frequent causes of infertility in mares. In the present case wereport a six-year-old Colombian Paso Fino maiden Mare that was attended for breeding purposes with aprevious history of ovulation failure. At ultrasound (US) examination of the reproductive tract and ovariesthe left ovary measured 15 x 13 cm and a pathologic 13 x 11 cm diameter anecoic structure was diagnosed.The right ovary was found of normal size, and the uterus was found flacid. An anti homotoxic theraphywith Ovarium compositum®, Damiana injeel®, Cerebrum compositum®, and Phosphor hommacord® for1½ months and FK (neural) therapy (twice/15 days) were then established, the ovary size was reduced,and softening of the follicular wall and a slight uterine response were observed. After 1½ month, the leftovary had 13 x 11 cm diameter and showed a 9 x 8 cm follicle, whereas the right ovary was multifollicular.Serum progesterone, estradiol and testosterone levels were those characteristics of an anestrous mare.The mare was treated with hCG (3.000 UI, i.v./3 days) and 4 days later a corpus luteum was diagnosedby US in the left ovary and serum progesterone levels raised to 14.91 ng/dl. At day 7 after hCG treatmentthe mare was given PGF2α (9 μg/kg/for two days) intramuscular, estrous was evident 5 days later, andartificial insemination (AI) with fertile semen was practiced resulting in a viable pregnancy as evaluatedby ultrasound at day 20; however, this pregnancy was lost at 40 days after AI. The mare returned to estrus20 days later, she was then inseminated and the resulting pregnancy was confirmed at day 20th resultingin a successful gestation and foaling of a full term viable foal. This report suggests hormonal therapy andalternative medicine could be successfully combined for treatment of specific ovarian pathologies in mares.

O fracasso ovulatório é uma das principais causas de infertilidade em éguas cíclicas. Neste caso, sedescreveu o acompanhamento de uma égua nulípara da paso fino colombiano, de seis anos idade queconsultou para serem sujeitos a reprodução. No exame ultra-som que ele encontrou o ovário esquerdo,15 x 13 cm, com uma estrutura patológica de 13 x 11 cm, o ovários direito sem estruturas e útero mau. Aégua sofreu tratamento com drogas Ovarium compositum®, Damiana injeel®, Cerebrum compositum®, ePhosphor hommacord® durante 1½ mês, FK terapêutica (terapia neural, duas em 15 dias), o que diminuiuo tamanho do folículo e do ovário, induzida amolecimento da parede uterina e leve resposta folicular.Um mês e meio depois, o ovário esquerdo tinha 13 x 11 cm e um folículo 9 x 8 cm, e do ovário direito foimultifolicular. As concentrações de progesterona, estradiol e testosterona foram características do anestro.A égua foi tratada com eCG (3.000 UI IV/3 dias), quatro dias após a progesterona ascendeu a 14.91 ng/dl, efoi visto por ultra-som corpo lúteo no ovário esquerdo. Em sete dias, a égua foi tratada com PGF2α (9 μg/kg/2 dias) i.m., introduzido estro após cinco dias, foi inseminada e teve uma gestação que perdeu a 40 dias;introduziu um novo estro em 20 dias, foi inseminação, a gravidez foi confirmada em 20 dias e atualmentemantém um 9 meses de gestação. Este caso sugere a utilidade da terapia hormonal combinando commedicina alternativa para o tratamento de certos tipos de anomalias no funcionamento do ovário em éguas.

Resveratrol, a red wine constituent polyphenol, protects from ischemia-reperfusion damage of the ovaries.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of resveratrol on histopathological changes, antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation, in torsion-detorsion injury in rat ovaries. METHOD: To determine whether ischemia followed by reperfusion can induce ovarian oxidative damage, we created a model of adnexal ischemia-reperfusion by using rats. Ischemia was induced by unilateral occlusion of the tubo-ovarian vessels for 3 h. Reperfusion was achieved by releasing the occlusion and restoring the circulation for 3 h. Thirty-two adult female albino rats were divided equally into 4 groups: sham operation, torsion, saline/detorsion and resveratrol/detorsion. Rats in the torsion group were killed after 360 degrees clockwise adnexal torsion for 3 h. Resveratrol was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before detorsion in the resveratrol/detorsion group, and saline was administered in the saline/detorsion group. After 3 h of adnexal detorsion in both of these groups, the rats were killed and adnexa were removed. The tissue levels of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione and xanthine oxidase activity were measured. RESULTS: Malondialdehyde and xanthine oxidase levels in the saline/detorsion group were increased significantly when compared to the torsion and sham operation groups (p < 0.001). Malondialdehyde levels in the resveratrol group were lower than in the saline/detorsion group, and differences between the two groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Xanthine oxidase levels in the resveratrol group were lower than in the saline/detorsion and torsion groups, and differences between these groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Reduced glutathione levels in the saline/detorsion group were decreased significantly when compared to the torsion and sham operation groups. Reduced glutathione levels in the resveratrol group were significantly higher than in the saline/detorsion group (p < 0.006). Histological examination showed a significant improvement in ovarian morphology in the resveratrol-treated rats compared with the ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion groups. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that intraperitoneal resveratrol administration reduced the lipid peroxidation products of ischemic rats and ovarian damage was reduced as indicated by histological examination.