Ginseng alleviates folliculogenesis disorders via induction of cell proliferation and downregulation of apoptotic markers in nicotine-treated mice

• Published in: Journal of ovarian research 2022-01, Vol.15 (1), p.14-14, Article 14
• Main Authors: Faghani, Masoumeh, Saedi, Sahar, Khanaki, Korosh, Mohammadghasemi, Fahimeh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 17β-Estradiol; Analysis; Animals; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins - genetics; Bcl-2 protein; Catalase; Catalase - blood; Catalase - metabolism; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Colorimetry; Cytochrome c; Down-Regulation - drug effects; Enzymatic activity; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Estrogen; Female; Follicle-stimulating hormone; Follicles; Folliculogenesis; Ginseng; Glycoproteins; Histochemistry; Hormones; Hormones - blood; Hypothalamus; Ki-67 Antigen - metabolism; Lipid peroxidation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Luteinizing hormone; Malondialdehyde; Malondialdehyde - blood; Mice; Nicotine; Nicotine - pharmacology; Ovaries; Ovary; Ovary - drug effects; Ovary - growth & development; Ovary - metabolism; Panax; Panax ginseng; Pituitary; Plant Preparations - pharmacology; Polymerase chain reaction; Progesterone; Proliferation; Proteins; Reproductive system; Sex hormones; Smoking; Stroma; Superoxide; Superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - blood; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Vagina; Women
• ISSN: 1757-2215; 1757-2215
• DOI: 10.1186/s13048-022-00945-x

Ginseng is a powerful phytoestrogen with high antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Panax Ginseng (PG) on folliculogenesis, proliferation, and apoptosis in the ovary impaired by nicotine. Forty adult mice were divided into five groups. Control, sham, and nicotine groups, and co-treated groups of nicotine and ginseng in doses of 0.5 and 1 g/kg. Folliculogenesis was assessed via histopathology and serum evaluation of estradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) by ELISA. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities both in homogenate tissue and serum were assayed by colorimetric analysis. Apoptotic markers of cytochrome c (Cyt c), Bax, and Bcl-2 were evaluated by RT-PCR. Proliferative index was studied by the Ki-67 immunostaining procedure. In comparison to the control or sham groups, nicotine significantly reduced the levels of FSH, LH, and estradiol hormones. An insignificant reduction was observed in the progesterone hormone. Nicotine reduced all healthy follicle numbers, except primordial (P = 0.001). Malondialdehyde (MDA) was increased in tissue and serum in the nicotine group (P = 0.01). Serum catalase (CAT) and enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) both were reduced in tissue and the serum, in the nicotine group. Nicotine induced a reduction in the proliferative indexes of granulosa and theca cells in pre-antral and antral follicles (P = 0.001). However, its effect on the proliferative index of stroma cells was not significant. Apoptotic markers were elevated in the nicotine group (P = 0.001). Co-treatment with ginseng elevated all sex hormones, increased healthy follicles, and reduced tissue or serum lipid peroxidation, compared with the nicotine group (p