Phoenix dactylifera L. date tree pollen fertility effects on female rats in relation to its UPLC-MS profile via a biochemometric approach.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is among the most ancient cultivated crops, of special value owing to its fruits high nutritive and economic benefits. Asides, date palm pollen is a high energy material that has been used traditionally used for fertility enhancement. In this study, effects of date palm pollen crude extract and its fractions viz., petroleum ether, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate and n-butanol on the female reproductive system were evaluated for the first time in relation to its metabolite fingerprint. Fertility activity was evaluated in immature female rats by assessing their FSH-, LH- and estrogen- activities. To pinpoint active hormonal agents in crude pollen extract and fractions, UPLC- MS analysis was employed for metabolites profiling, and in correlation to extract/fraction bioassays using multivariate OPLS analysis. Results revealed that both polar n-butanol and non-polar petroleum ether fractions exhibited the strongest activities; with a significant increase in FSH (25.7 mIU/ml in n-butanol group), estradiol (414.7 pg/ml in petroleum ether group) and progesterone levels (122.4 pg/ml in n-butanol group). Correlation between UPLC-MS and fraction bioassays was attempted using multivariate OPLS analysis to reveal for bioactive hits in these fractions. This study provides the first report on the fertility effect of date palm pollen in female rats and in relation to its metabolite fingerprint.

The Use of a Biostimulant Composition to Increase Turkey Viability during the Key Critical Periods of Development.

The paper reports that the treatment of hatching turkey eggs with a mixture composed of colamine, succinic acid, serine, and pyridoxine hydrochloride increased the viability of embryos and reduced incubation wastes. This effect allowed increasing the hatching of turkey poults by 6.73% and the hatchability of eggs, by 4.43%. At the same time, a statistically significant decrease in the key lipid peroxidation products in one-day-old turkey poults was observed. In particular, the content of isolated double bonds decreased 1.47-fold (p < 0.01); diene conjugates, 1.67-fold (p < 0.01); triene conjugates, 1.46-fold (p < 0.05); oxidiene conjugates, 1.48-fold (p < 0.01); and Schiff bases, 1.3-fold compared to the control. All the above-mentioned positively affected survivability in the experimental group, which appeared to be increased by 1% compared to the control.

Lepidium meyenii (Maca) enhances the serum levels of luteinising hormone in female rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Lepidium meyenii (Maca) is traditionally employed in the Andean region for its supposed fertility benefits. This study investigated the effect of Maca on the serum pituitary hormone levels during the pro-oestrus phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Maca powder was made from the tubers of Lepidium meyenii Walp collected, dried, and reduced to powder at the plantation in Junín Plateau and was purchased from Yamano del Perú SAC. The Maca powder was identified by chemical profiling and taxonomic methods. Two groups of female Sprague-Dawley rats were provided feed with normal feed containing 5%, 25%, or 50% Maca powder ad libitum for 7 weeks. At 1800h of the proestrus stage, the rats were euthanised, and blood samples were collected for serum isolation. The serum pituitary hormone levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). RESULTS: No significant differences in feed intake or growth rate were observed among the rats. During the pro-oestrus stage, a 4.5-fold increase (P<0.01) in luteinising hormone (LH) and a 19-fold increase (P<0.01) in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were observed in the sera of rats fed with 50% Maca powder compared with the control rats. No significant differences were observed in the levels of the other pituitary hormones, including growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). A dose-dependent increase of LH serum levels was observed within the range of 3-30g Maca/kg. Furthermore, the enhancement of the LH serum levels was specific to the pro-oestrus LH surge. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that Maca uniquely enhances the LH serum levels of pituitary hormones in female rats during the pro-oestrus LH surge and acts in a pharmacological, dose-dependent manner. These findings support the traditional use of Maca to enhance fertility and suggest a potential molecular mechanism responsible for its effects.

A novel reproductive peptide, phoenixin.

Normal anterior pituitary function is essential for fertility. Release from the gland of the reproductive hormones luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone is regulated primarily by hypothalamically-derived gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), although other releasing factors (RF) have been postulated to exist. Using a bioinformatic approach, we have identified a novel peptide, phoenixin, that regulates pituitary gonadotrophin secretion by modulating the expression of the GnRH receptor, an action with physiologically relevant consequences. Compromise of phoenixin in vivo using small interfering RNA resulted in the delayed appearance of oestrus and a reduction in GnRH receptor expression in the pituitary. Phoenixin may represent a new class of hypothalamically-derived pituitary priming factors that sensitise the pituitary to the action of other RFs, rather than directly stimulating the fusion of secretary vesicles to pituitary membranes.

Emerging drugs in assisted reproduction.

Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples of reproductive age. In assisted reproductive technology (ART), medications play a crucial role in stimulating ovaries to produce several oocytes and prepare the endometrium to be receptive after replacing one or more embryos into the uterine cavity. The availability of recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone and human chorionic gonadotrophin; of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists; and of luteal supplementation with progesterone have allowed the tailoring of several stimulation schemes, which have enhanced the pregnancy outcome after ART treatment. However, the remaining risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, the still low implantation rates, the unacceptably high rates of multiple pregnancies and the daily parenteral administration of medications do not constitute the features of a patient-friendly procedure. Therefore, a number of molecules with gonadotrophin-like activity, inhibition of GnRH receptor ability, or endometrium receptivity enhancement properties are currently under active investigation. Orally bioactive therapeutic preparations, in particular, may revolutionize in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment in the near future. Nevertheless, the implementation of mild ovarian stimulation protocols with single embryo transfer policy and further development of oocyte in vitro maturation techniques may lead to a less drug orientated IVF treatment.

Biologically relevant tetraazamacrocyclic complexes of manganese: synthetic, spectral, antimicrobial, antifertility and antiinflammatory approach.

The testicular sperm density, sperm morphology, sperm motility, density of cauda epididymis spermatozoa and fertility in mating trials and biochemical parameters of reproductive organs have been examined and discussed for [Mn(N(4)MacL(n))(NO(3))(2)] (where N(4)MacL(n) represents the tetraazamacrocyclic ligand molecule with n=1-4) type of complexes. An attempt also has been made to correlate the structural aspects of the compounds with their anti-inflammatory activity. The 14-18 membered tetraamide macrocyclic ligands N(4)L(1)-N(4)L(4) used during these investigations have been prepared by the condensation of 1,2-diaminoethane or 1,3-diaminopropane with malonic or succinic acid in the presence of condensing reagents, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 4-dimethylaminopyridine. On reduction, these macrocyclic ligands give a new series of tetraazamacrocyles [N(4)MacL(n)] and their complexes with manganese(II) nitrate. The ligands and their complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations, infrared, electronic, mass and X-ray structural analyses. An octahedral geometry for these complexes has been confirmed by spectral studies. On the basis of the chemical composition, the representation of the complexes as [Mn(N(4)MacL(n))(NO(3))(2)] has been established. The ligands and their complexes have been screened in vitro against a number of pathogenic fungi and bacteria to assess their growth inhibiting potential.

Rational drug design of multifunctional phosphoramidate substituted nucleoside analogs.

This review focuses on our approach to the study of the effect of a series of phosphoramidate substituted nucleoside analogs on model systems for cancer, HIV and fertility. This approach allowed the development of compound WHI-07, an arylphosphoramidate derivative of zidavudine. This compound is a multifunctional agent showing potent activity in the above mentioned model systems. Our rational drug design provided such a powerful derivative with all the necessary characteristic of a drug candidate. Importantly, we have experimental evidence that each of the groups associated with the molecular frame of WHI-07 imparts the multifunctional ability for this agent. In addition, we have also suggested a possible biological pathway for WHI-07 including various products with their therapeutic targets that are formed during the course of its metabolism inside the cell. We also propose which individual moieties in the structure of WHI-07 are responsible for the biological activity from the formation of these metabolites. A detailed structure-activity relationship is presented in the review in connection with various structural modifications of the agent. Application of this active agent in animal models shows the potential usefulness of this agent as a drug candidate. We further plan to utilize gene-chip technology to identify new targets and modes of action using microarrays to measure expression changes in thousands of gene products. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the power of multifunctional drug design to discover drugs to combat various diseases. We believe this is the future direction of the drug discovery process.

Separation and quantification of the major daucane esters of Ferula hermonis by HPLC.

A simple HPLC method was developed to quantify the major daucane sesquiterpene esters present in herb and roots of Ferula hermonis Boiss. The method utilized a C(18) reversed phase analytical column with isocratic elution for 30 minutes and UV detection at 240 nm. Extracts from two crude plant samples and two commercial products were fingerprinted and quantitatively analyzed.