Paeonia lactiflora improves ovarian function and oocyte quality in aged female mice

Abstract

Although ovarian aging is a key cause of decreased ovarian function and oocyte quality, it remains a problem in infertility treatment. Therefore, this study is aimed to investigate whether Paeonia lactiflora (PL), a herb improves ovarian function and oocyte quality using aged female mice. C57BL/6 female mice aged 8 months were treated orally every day with PL of 26.5 mg/kg (n=7) and 53 mg/kg (n=7) of body weight for 4 weeks using an oral zoned needle. The control group (n=7) was treated with normal saline. Ovaries and serum were collected for the H&E stain and the evaluation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, respectively. In the second experiment, female mice were orally administered with PL (26.5 mg/kg: n=12, 53 mg/kg: n=12, control: n=12) and then superovulated with PMSG and hCG, and mated with male mice. Zygotes were retrieved and cultured for 4 days. Ovaries were provided for examination of expressions of genes associated with angiogenesis (VEGF and visfatin), anti-aging (Sirt1 and Sirt2), and follicular development (c-Kit, BMP-15, and GDF-9). PL significantly increased numbers of surviving follicles (primordial, primary, secondary, and antral), numbers of zygotes retrieved, embryo development rate, and ovarian expression of VEGF, visfatin, c-Kit, BMP-15, and GDF-9 at both doses. However, ovarian expression of Sirt1 and Sirt2 was increased at 53.0 mg/kg of PL. ROS levels were not affected by PL. These results suggest that PL may possess beneficial effects regarding ovarian function and oocyte quality, possibly by activation of ovarian angiogenesis and follicular development.

Effect of samul-tang on female fertility via RAS signaling pathway in ovaries of aged mice

“…The herb is commonly prescribed to women with gynecological disorders, such as irregular menstruation and postmenopausal syndrome, often clinically observed in older women with POR [16]. Anti-aging effects of three compounds, including P. lactiflora, R. glutinosa, and AGING A. gigas, have been reported using human cells and animal models [17][18][19]. Although herbal medicines are traditionally known to improve fertility-related parameters, scientific evidence supporting their use for age-related infertility is limited.…”

ErZhiTianGui Decoction alleviates age-related ovarian aging by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis and inhibiting ferroptosis

“…Paeonia lactiflora Pall has long been used to treat female infertility and recurrent miscarriages. The water-extract Paeonia lactiflora Pall increases ovarian expression of angiogenic factors and follicular development regulatory factors in aged female mice [ 24 ].…”

Ethnopharmacological Survey of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacy Prescriptions for Dysmenorrhea

“…In particular, paeoniflorin, which is one of the monoterpene glucosides and a major active compound of PL, improves endometrial receptivity by inducing the expression of leukemia inhibitory factors, thereby enhancing the embryo implantation rate (Park et al, 2021). PL may also provide beneficial effects towards ovarian function and oocyte quality, possibly by stimulating ovarian angiogenesis and follicular development (Park et al, 2020). Consequently, PL has been used as an important herbal remedy for the treatment of dysmenorrhea in many ethnomedical medical systems around the world (Li et al, 2021).…”