ABSTRACT
Background: There is some evidence indicating that Matricaria chamomile [MC] had protective effects on ischemia- reperfusion. In the present study, a rat model was used to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of MC on torsion/detorsion-induced testis tissue damage
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 28 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups as follows: G1, Sham operated; G2, testicular torsion/detorsion [T/D]; G3, rats with testicular torsion/detorsion that received 300 mg/kg of MC extracts 30 minutes before detorsion [T/DMC]; and G4, healthy rats that received 300 mg/kg of MC extracts [MC]. Also, the reperfusion period was 24 hours. After blood sampling, the oxidative stress marker [e.g. superoxide dismutase [SOD] levels], blood levels of testosterone, and anti-oxidant enzyme levels [e.g. glutathione peroxidase [GPx]] were assessed by ELISA methods. Serum activity of malondialdehyde [MDA] was evaluated by spectrophotometry. Another assessment was carried out by histomorphometry, 24-hour post-procedure. The histological parameters investigated by Johnson's scores [JS], also the seminiferous tubule diameter [STD] and the height of the germinal epithelium [HE] measured using the linear eyepiece grids using light microscopy
Results: Histological features significantly differed between sham and the other groups. The levels of SOD, GPx, and testosterone hormone were significantly decreased in T/D group as compared to sham group, while these parameters increased in T/DMC group as compared to T/D group. During ischemia, the MDA levels increased; however, treatment with MC extract decreased the MDA levels in G3 and G4 groups
Conclusion: Results of the present study demonstrated that MC can protect the testis tissue against torsion/detorsion- induced damages by suppressing superoxide production
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The aim of this study was to design and assess the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria chamomilla (MC) on preantral follicle culture of mouse ovaries in a three-dimensional culture system.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Isolated preantral follicles were randomly divided into three main groups: the control group containing 10% fetal bovine serum without MC extract (G1), the first experimental group supplemented with 25 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile (G2), and the second experimental group supplemented with 50 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile (G3).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 12 days of culture, the survival rate (P < 0.05), antrum formation (P < 0.01), metaphase two oocytes (P < 0.01), and the expression of PCNA (P < 0.05) and FSHR (P < 0.05) genes significantly decreased in G3 as compared with G1. On the other hand, at the last day of culture (day 12), the mean diameter of follicles cultured in the medium which was supplemented with 50 μg/ml hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile significantly decreased as compared with the G1 (P < 0.05). In addition, the levels of progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone hormones significantly increased in the medium of G3 relative to G1 (P < 0.01), while in the medium of G1, the level of 17β-estradiol was significantly higher than that of other groups (P < 0.01). Reactive oxygen species levels of metaphase II oocytes were significantly decreased in G2 as compared with G1 (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Adding chamomile extract to culture media appeared to decrease follicular function and development.</p>