High fat diet-induced estrus cycle disruption: effects of Ficus asperifolia
-
Esther Ngadjui
Abstract
Background: Ficus asperifolia (L) Hook. Ex Miq (Moraceae) fruits are used in Cameroonian traditional medicine to cure some cases of infertility in women. This study determines the mechanism of alleviating effect of the plant extracts on rat infertility induced by a high fat diet (HFD).
Methods: Obesity was reached by feeding female rats with a HFD for 10 weeks. Vaginal smear was observed daily for 3 weeks after animals were obese. Then, 70 animals with abnormal estrus cyclicity were selected and partitioned into two sets of 35 animals. Each set was further divided into seven groups of five rats. These obese rats with disrupted estrus cyclicity were orally administered the aqueous and methanolic extracts (100 and 500 mg/kg), distilled water (10 mL/kg), 5% Tween 80 (10 mL/kg) or lutenyl (0.8 µg/kg) once a day for 1 week (set I) or 4 weeks (set II). Estrus cyclicity, body weight gain, hematocrit, lipid profile, ovarian, uterine and hepatic growth indices were determined at the end of each treatment.
Results: HFD increased the body weight of the animals by 27% and disrupted the estrus cyclicity by 98.44%. Aqueous extract (100 mg/kg) of F. asperifolia given for 1 week corrected 40% of the irregular estrus cycle and this percentage increased to 80% as the treatment progressed to 4 weeks. F. asperifolia-treated obese rats (mostly with the aqueous extract at 100 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in the total plasma cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level and a significant increase (p<0.001) in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. F. asperifolia has bioactive agents that may maintain conducive conditions for reproduction in obese female rats.
Conclusions: Our data support the anecdotal claims of F. asperifolia in folk medicine to cure some cases of infertility in women.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) for the grant [Ref 07–300 RG/BIO/AF/AC; UNESCOFR: 3240184286].
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: None declared.
Employment or leadership: None declared.
Honorarium: None declared.
Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
References
1. SchilloKK. Effects of dietary energy on control of luteinizing hormone secretion in cattle and sheep. J Anim Sci1992;70:1271–82.10.2527/1992.7041271xSuche in Google Scholar PubMed
2. TortorielloDV, McMinnJ, ChuaSC. Dietary-induced obesity and hypothalamic infertility in female DBA/2j mice. Endocrinology2004;145:1238–47.10.1210/en.2003-1406Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
3. AkamineEH, MarçalAC, CamporezJP, HoshidaMS, CaperutoLC, BevilacquaE, et al. Obesity induced by high-fat diet promotes insulin resistance in the ovary. J Endocrinol2010;206:65–74.10.1677/JOE-09-0461Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
4. QuennellJH, HowellCS, RoaJ, AugustineRA, GrattanDR, AndersonGM. Leptin deficiency and diet-induced obesity reduce hypothalamic kisspeptin expression in mice. Endocrinology2011;152:1541–50.10.1210/en.2010-1100Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
5. WuS, DivallS, WondisfordF, WolfeA. Reproductive tissues maintain insulin sensitivity in diet-induced obesity. Diabetes2012;61:114–23.10.2337/db11-0956Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
6. CarrieLMB, OlsterD. Abnormal estrus cyclicity and behavioral hyporesponsiveness to ovarian hormones in genetically obese Zucker female rats. Endocrinology1997;138:143–8.10.1210/endo.138.1.4849Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
7. FullstonT, PalmerNO, OwensJA, MitchellM, BakosHW, LaneM. Diet-induced paternal obesity in the absence of diabetes diminishes the reproductive health of two subsequent generations of mice. Hum Reprod2012;27:1391–400.10.1093/humrep/des030Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
8. Gil-CamposM, CaneteR, GilA. Hormones regulating lipid metabolism and plasma lipids in childhood obesity. Anim Sci2004;28:575–80.10.1038/sj.ijo.0802806Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
9. LuzzoKM, WangQ, PurcellSH, ChiM, JimenezPT,GrindlerN, et al. High fat diet induced developmental defects in the mouse: oocyte meiotic aneuploidy and fetal growth retardation/brain defects. PLoS One2012;7:49217.10.1371/journal.pone.0049217Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
10. Bermejo-AlvarezP, RosenfeldCS, RobertsRM. Effect of maternal obesity on estrus cyclicity, embryo development and blastocyst gene expression in a mouse model. Hum Reprod2012;27:3513–22.10.1093/humrep/des327Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
11. BinderNK, HannanNJ, GardnerDK. Paternal diet-induced obesity retards early mouse embryo development, mitochondrial activity and pregnancy health. Plos One2012;7:52304.10.1371/journal.pone.0052304Suche in Google Scholar
12. SalahAM, GathumbiJ, VierlingW, WagnerH. Estrogenic and cholinergic properties of the methanol extract of Ruellia praetermissa Sceinf. Ex. Lindau (Acantaceae) in female rats. Phytomedicine2002;9:52–5.10.1078/0944-7113-00079Suche in Google Scholar
13. HongL,GuoZ,HuangK,WeiS,LongC.Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by Maonan people in China. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed2015;11(1):32–9.10.1186/s13002-015-0019-1Suche in Google Scholar
14. AdjanohounE, AhiyiMR, AkeAL, DramaneK, ElewadeJA, FadajuSA, et al. Traditional medicine and pharmacopoeia, contribution to ethnobotanical and floristic studies in Western Nigeria. Paris: Edition Marketing, 1991:119.Suche in Google Scholar
15. WatchoP, NgadjuiE, Nkeng-efouetPA, NguelefackTB, KamanyiA. Reproductive effects of Ficus asperifolia (Moraceae) in female rats. African Health Sci2009;9:49–53.Suche in Google Scholar
16. EstherN, PierreW, TelesphoreBN, AlbertK. Effects of Ficus asperifolia on normal rat estrus cyclicity. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed2013;3:53–7.10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60023-4Suche in Google Scholar
17. WatchoP, NgadjuiE, Nkeng-efouetPA, NguelefackTB, KamanyiA. Evaluation of in vitro uterotonic activities of fruit extracts of Ficus asperifolia in rats. ECAM2010;21:1–7.10.1093/ecam/nep221Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
18. DeS, DeyYN, GhoshAK. Phytochemical investigation and chromatographic evaluation of the different extracts of tuber of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Araceae). Int J Pharm Biomed Res2010;1:150–7.Suche in Google Scholar
19. SharpPE, La ReginaMC. The laboratory rat. CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL. 23, 2009.Suche in Google Scholar
20. FriedewaldWT, LevyRI, FredricksonDS. Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin Chem1972;18:499–502.10.1093/clinchem/18.6.499Suche in Google Scholar
21. DoHJ, JinT, ChungJH, HwangJW, ShinMJ. Voglibose administration regulates body weight and energy intake in high fat-induced obese mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun2014;291:2191–21918.Suche in Google Scholar
22. MustaphaAR, BawaEK, OgwuD, AbdullahiUS, KaikaboAA, DiarraSS. Effects of ethanolic extract of Rhynchosia sublobata (Schumach) Meikle on estrus cycle in Wistar rats. Int J Med Arom2011;1:122–7.Suche in Google Scholar
23. PanidisD, TziomalosK, MisicronisG, PapadakisE, BetsasG, KatsikisI, et al. Insulin resistance and endocrine characteristics of the different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome: a prospective study. Hum Reprod2012;27:541–9.10.1093/humrep/der418Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
24. BeckKD, JiaoX, CominskiTP, ServatiusRJ. Estrus cycle stage modifies the presentation of stress-induced startle suppression in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Physiol Beh2008;93:1019–23.10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.01.012Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
25. WeshoodFR. The reproductive cycle; a practical histological guide to staging. Toxicol Pathol2008;36:375–84.10.1177/0192623308315665Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
26. ByersSI, WilesMV, DunnSL, TaftRA. Mouse estrous cycle identification tool and images. Plos One2012;7:35538.10.1371/journal.pone.0035538Suche in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
27. GalvanM, UauyR, CorvalanC, Lopez-RodríguezG, KainJ. Determinants of cognitive development of low SES children in Chile: a post-transitional country with rising childhood obesity rates. Matern Child Health J2013;17:1243–51.10.1007/s10995-012-1121-9Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
28. FaroogR, LutfullahS, AhmedM. Serum leptin levels in obese infertile men and women. Pak J Pharm Sci2014;27:67–71.Suche in Google Scholar
29. WhiteJT, DesantoCL, GibbonsC, LardnerCK, PanakosA, RaisS, et al. Insulins, leptin and feeding in a population of Peromyscus leucopus (White-footed mouse) with variable fertility. Horm Behay2014;506:28–30.Suche in Google Scholar
30. PantasriT, NormanRJ. The effects of being overweight and obese on female reproduction: a review. Gynecol Endocrinol2014;30:90–4.10.3109/09513590.2013.850660Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
31. SunmanH, CanpolatU, SahinerL, AytemirK. Use of fenofibrate during the first trimester of unplanned pregnancy in a patient with hypertriglyceridemia. Ann Pharmacother2012;46:5–8.10.1345/aph.1Q626Suche in Google Scholar PubMed
32. WathesDC. Mechanisms linking metabolic status and disease whit reproductive outcome in the dairy cow. Reprod Domest Anim2012;47:304–12.10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02090.xSuche in Google Scholar PubMed
33. WongNC. The beneficial effects of plant sterols on serum cholesterol. Can J Cardiol2001;17:715–19.Suche in Google Scholar
©2015 by De Gruyter
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Review
- Bovine colostrum: an emerging nutraceutical
- Preclinical Studies
- Syzygium cumini seed extract ameliorates adenosine deaminase activity and biochemical parameters but does not alter insulin sensitivity and pancreas architecture in a short-term model of diabetes
- In vitro antioxidant and anti-lipoperoxidative activities of bark extracts of Xylopia aethiopica against ion-mediated toxicity on liver homogenates
- High fat diet-induced estrus cycle disruption: effects of Ficus asperifolia
- Antihistamine from Tragia involucrata L. leaves
- Clinical Studies
- Co-administration of α-lipoic acid and glutathione is associated with no significant changes in serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase or γ-glutamyltranspeptidase levels during the treatment of neuroborreliosis with intravenous ceftriaxone
- Evaluating the use of gas discharge visualization to measure massage therapy outcomes
- The effect of acupuncture on pain score after open kidney surgery
- Short Communication
- An ethnopharmacological approach to the preliminary screening of native Australian herbal medicines for anticancer activity
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Frontmatter
- Review
- Bovine colostrum: an emerging nutraceutical
- Preclinical Studies
- Syzygium cumini seed extract ameliorates adenosine deaminase activity and biochemical parameters but does not alter insulin sensitivity and pancreas architecture in a short-term model of diabetes
- In vitro antioxidant and anti-lipoperoxidative activities of bark extracts of Xylopia aethiopica against ion-mediated toxicity on liver homogenates
- High fat diet-induced estrus cycle disruption: effects of Ficus asperifolia
- Antihistamine from Tragia involucrata L. leaves
- Clinical Studies
- Co-administration of α-lipoic acid and glutathione is associated with no significant changes in serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase or γ-glutamyltranspeptidase levels during the treatment of neuroborreliosis with intravenous ceftriaxone
- Evaluating the use of gas discharge visualization to measure massage therapy outcomes
- The effect of acupuncture on pain score after open kidney surgery
- Short Communication
- An ethnopharmacological approach to the preliminary screening of native Australian herbal medicines for anticancer activity
