Buckwheat, rooibos, and vitex extracts can mitigate adverse effects of xylene on ovarian cells in vitro

Abstract

This study examines whether selected functional food and medicinal plants can mitigate the adverse effects of xylene on ovarian cells. The influences of xylene (0, 10, 100, or 1000 ng/mL), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), vitex (Vitex agnus-castus), extracts (10 μg/mL each), and a combination of xylene with these plant additives on cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells are compared. Cell viability, proliferation (PCNA accumulation), apoptosis (accumulation of bax), and release of progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) were analyzed by the trypan blue tests, quantitative immunocytochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. Xylene suppressed all measures of ovarian cell function. Rooibos prevented all of xylene's effects, whereas buckwheat and vitex prevented four of five of the analyzed effects (buckwheat prevented xylene influence on viability, PCNA, bax, and E2; vitex prevented xylene action on viability, PCNA, and P4 and E2). These observations show that xylene has the potential to suppress ovarian cell functions, and that buckwheat, rooibos, and vitex can mitigate those effects, making them natural protectors against the adverse effects of xylene on ovarian cells.

Dietary Supplementation of Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Alters Ovarian Functions of Xylene-Exposed Mice

“…Women exposed to aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., xylene) had reduced levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) [ 6 , 7 ], follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and prostaglandin [ 6 ], as well as pregnanediol 3-glucuronide (pd3G) and estrone 3-glucuronide (E13G) [ 7 ]. In vitro studies showed that xylene was able to affect proliferation, apoptosis, and the release of steroids, peptide hormones, and prostaglandins by cultured murine [ 8 ], porcine [ 9 , 10 , 11 ], and bovine [ 12 ] ovarian cells. The adverse effects on the ovary could be due to the ability of xylene to induce oxidative stress and to affect the production and reception of steroid hormones, as well as the intracellular regulators of ovarian cell proliferation and apoptosis [ 2 ].…”

“…One such remedy could be the use of functional food—plant products containing flavonoids, which can act as natural adaptogens, antioxidants, and phytoestrogens [ 2 ]. Previously, the abilities of some plants (buckwheat, rooibos, Vitex Agnus cactus [ 11 ]; Tribulus Terrestris [ 12 ]) and plant molecules (quercetin [ 9 ]) to mitigate xylene effects on cultured porcine and bovine ovarian cells have been reported. Nevertheless, the effects of these plant additives have been studied only in the in vitro systems, but these additives were able to prevent only part of the xylene effect.…”

Toxicological Effects of Technical Xylene Mixtures on the Female Reproductive System: A Systematic Review

“…Using the cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells, Sirotkin et al [ 19 ] found that xylene stimulated the build-up of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), an indication of increased cellular replication. The result was found to be contrary in their later study, where xylene reduced the PCNA expression [ 21 ]. A xylene compound also surged the apoptotic activity, as shown by an elevated apoptotic marker, Bax, thus reducing the cellular viability.…”

“…In vitro studies explored further the protective effects of certain vegetables and medicinal plants against xylene toxicity using bovine and porcine ovarian granulosa cells [ 17 , 18 , 21 ]. Nevertheless, the mechanism of xylene toxicity when absorbed into human and animal bodies is not well understood.…”

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) influence on health and ovarian functions

“…Subsequent studies, however, did not confirm the ability of rooibos additions at dose 10 µg/mL to affect this marker of apoptosis. Furthermore, in these studies rooibos additions promoted accumulation of PCNA, which however did not alter cell viability (Sirotkin, Macejková, Tarko, Fabova, Alrezaki, et al, 2020; Sirotkin, Macejková, Tarko, Fabova, Alwasel, et al, 2020). Furthermore, in these studies rooibos was able to either promote (Sirotkin, Macejková, Tarko, Fabova, Alrezaki, et al, 2020) or reduce (Sirotkin, Macejková, Tarko, Fabova, Alwasel, et al, 2020) progesterone release.…”