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. 2016 Mar;14(3):205-12.

Effects of Portulaca oleracea ethanolic extract on reproductive system of aging female mice

Akram Ahangarpour  1 , Zohreh Lamoochi  2 , Hadi Fathi Moghaddam  2 , Seyed Mohamad Taghi Mansouri  3
Affiliations

Effects of Portulaca oleracea ethanolic extract on reproductive system of aging female mice

Akram Ahangarpour et al. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Aging contains morphological and functional deterioration in biological systems. D-galactose (D-gal) generates free radicals and accelerates aging. Portulaca oleracea (Purslane) may have protective effect against oxidative stress.

Objective: Purslane ethanolic extract effects were evaluated on antioxidant indices and sex hormone in D-gal aging female mice.

Materials and methods: 48 female NMRI mice (25-35 gr) were randomly divided into, 6 groups: 1- control (normal saline for 45 days), 2- Purslane (200 mg/kg for last 3 weeks), 3-D-gal (500 mg/kg for 45 days), 4-D-gal+Purslane, 5- Aging, 6-Aging+Purslane. Sex hormones, antioxidants and malondialdehyde (MDA) level of ovary and uterus were measured. Histological assessment was also done.

Results: In D-gal treated and aging animals, LH and FSH levels were significantly increased (p<0.001) while estrogen and progesterone levels were significantly reduced (p<0.001) in comparison with control group. MDA contents were significantly increased in ovaries and uterus of D-gal and aging groups (p<0.01). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p<0.001) and catalase (p<0.01) activities were significantly decreased in both aging and D-gal treated animals. Ovarian follicles were degenerated and atrophy on uterine wall and endometrial glands was observed in D-gal and aging groups. Alteration in hormone levels, MDA contents and antioxidant activity were significantly reversed by Purslane (p<0.05). Purslane could also improve histological changes such as atrophy of endometrium.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that Purslane can attenuate aging alternations induced by D-gal and aging in female reproductive system.

Keywords: Aging; D-galactose; Portulaca oleracea L (Purslane); antioxidant enzyme; sex hormones.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report with respect to this paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effect of ethanolic extract of Purslane (PO) on MDA level in ovary and uterus in normal and aging mice model; n=12; Mean±SEM. One-way ANOVA and post hoc LSD tests; **p<0.01, ***p<0.001 vs. Control group, #p<0.05 vs. Aging group, + p<0.05 vs D-gal group
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of ethanolic extract of Purslane (PO) on SOD activity in ovary and uterus in normal and aging mice model; n=12; Mean±SEM. One-way ANOVA and post hoc LSD tests; *** p<0.001 vs. Control group, #p<0.05 vs. Aging group, + p<0.05 vs D-gal group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of ethanolic extract of Purslane (PO) on CAT activity in ovary and uterus in normal and aging mice model; n=12; Mean±SEM. One-way ANOVA and post hoc LSD tests; **p<0.01 vs. Control group, #p<0.05 vs Aging group, + p<0.05 vs D-gal group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Photomicrographs of ovarian tissues. Effects of Purslane ethanolic extract on ovarian in aging mouse model. (A) control group, (B) Purslane control group; (C) D-gal group, (D) D-gal+Purslane group (E) Aging group (F) Aging+Purslane group (H&E staining, 400×).
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Photomicrographs of uterine tissues. Effects of Purslane ethanolic extract on Ovarian in aging mice model. (A) Control group; (B) Purslane control group; (C) D-gal group, (D) D-gal+Purslane group; (E) Aging group; (F) Aging+Purslane group (H&E staining; Magnifications: C is 250× and other figures are 100×).
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