Evaluation of the melatonin and oxidative stress markers level in serum of fertile and infertile women

Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve the pregnancy within a year of unprotected intercourse. Infertility is a complex issue and different factors such as stress oxidative can be involved in this problem. So, any attempt to neutralize oxidative stress would be helpful in the treatment of infertility. Melatonin is a known scavenger of free radicals. The aim of our study was to evaluate the level of melatonin and its correlation with oxidative biomarkers in fertile and infertile women. The participants including fertile and infertile women were divided into two groups of 30 people. Blood sampling was performed and sera were collected. The level of Malondialdehyde [MDA], total antioxidant capacity [TAG] and melatonin were detected. Data were analyzed using T-test and their correlation was assessed using Spearman test. Serum melatonin from fertile women was higher than infertile women but the difference was not significant [p= 0.46]. MDA level in fertile women was significantly lower than infertile women [p<0.001] and the level of TAG in fertile women was significantly higher than infertile women [p<0.001]. Spearman test revealed a significant and direct correlation between melatonin and TAG in fertile and infertile women and a significant but reverse correlation between melatonin and MDA in infertile and fertile women. Differences in the level of oxidative stress biomarkers in fertile and infertile individuals have been reported. This study revealed a significant correlation between melatonin and oxidative stress biomarkers, concluding that melatonin level could be involved in infertility

Study of Foeniculum vulgare effect on folliculogenesis in female mice

Foeniculum vulgare [FVE] is used in traditional medicine for its antiseptic, palliative and anti-inflammatory effects. Traditionally, FVE is utilized for treating female infertility. The present study aims to investigate the effects of FVE extract on folliculogenesis in female albino mice. In this experimental study, a total of 20 female albino mice were divided into four groups. Groups 1 and 2 [experimental] received FVE alcoholic extract at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight [BW]/day for five days. Group 3 [negative control] received ethanol and group 4 [positive control] was administered normal saline, in the same doses as the experimental groups. Animals in all groups were sacrificed on the sixth day of the study; their ovaries were dissected out and prepared for histological examinations. Hematoxylin and eosin [H and E] stained microscopic slides were evaluated and the numbers of ovarian follicles were compared between groups. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA. The total follicle numbers were 26.5 +/- 5.24 for group 1 [100 mg/kg FVE], 27.2 +/- 4.1 for group 2 [200 mg/kg FVE], 10.1 +/- 2.53 for group 3 [ethanol control] and 17.2 +/- 3.9 for the saline control group [group 4]. The numbers of graffian, antral and multilaminar follicles increased significantly in both experimental groups when compared with the control groups [p<0.05], however there were no significant differences in follicle numbers among the experimental groups. The number of unilaminar primary follicles did not significantly change between all groups. GC-MS analysis of FVE extract identified the presence of diosgenin, an estrogenic compound. FVE induced folliculogenesis in female mice ovary and increased the number of growing ovarian follicles. The estrogenic component of FVE, diosgenin, may exert this effect