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Natural Bioactives: From Discovery to Applications in Reproduction

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 July 2021) | Viewed by 21262

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Eva Tvrdá

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Guest Editor

Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
Interests: oxidative stress; antioxidants; natural biomolecules; reproductive biology; andrology; male fertility
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of bioactive compounds of natural origin in the management of health complications has been recorded for decades now, and the application of natural biomolecules has played a significant role in the evolution of a variety of contemporary pharmaceutical products. The World Health Organization (WHO) is a significant advocate of the use of natural bioactive molecules and has persuaded scientists to devote more attention to their rational application in the development of new medicaments or nutritional supplements.

Throughout history, numerous bioactive molecules isolated from natural resources have been used to counteract a variety of reproductive diseases based on their antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo as well as in vitro. In addition to well-known fertility-promoting natural biomolecules such as resveratrol, curcumin or lycopene, new bioactive substances exhibiting a variety of plausible beneficial effects on the male and female reproductive system are continuously emerging and gaining an increased attention from the scientific community.

As such, this Special Issue is dedicated to original research articles, which report on the latest findings connected to the role of bioactive compounds isolated from natural sources and their derivatives in the management or treatment of reproductive dysfunction. In vivo and in vitro reports as well as clinical trials may focus on the mechanisms of action of natural molecules ranging from general fertility-promoting properties to more specific effects on selected cellular targets. Review articles critically addressing the advancement of our understanding of the biological behavior of specific biomolecules, their interactions with reproductive cells and tissues, and strategies to improve the efficiency and bioavailability of natural molecules are highly welcome.

Finally, I believe that this Special Issue may contribute to a higher appreciation of natural biomolecules which can contribute to a more effective prevention or management of sub- or infertility in males and females.

Dr. Eva Tvrdá
Guest Editor

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Keywords

natural biomolecules
reproduction
infertility
prevention and treatment
biological activity
mechanisms of action
fertility-promoting effects

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Mono- and Disaccharide Combination in Cryoprotective Medium for Rooster Semen to Ensure Cryoresistance of Spermatozoa

by Olga Stanishevskaya, Yulia Silyukova, Nikolai Pleshanov and Anton Kurochkin

Molecules 2021, 26(19), 5920; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26195920 - 29 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1865

Abstract

The combination of saccharides in the composition of a cryopreservation medium may represent a promising method for the preservation of the reproductive cells of male birds. In the current study, cryoprotective media with a combined composition of mono- and di-saccharides were developed. The degree of penetration of reducing saccharide molecules (maltose—Mal20 medium) and non-reducing disaccharide molecules (trehalose—Treh20 medium) from the cryoprotective medium into the cytosol of rooster spermatozoa was studied. LCM control media without disaccharides were used as the control. The number of maltose molecules penetrating from the outside into the cytosol of the spermatozoon was 1.06 × 10⁴, and the number of trehalose molecules was 3.98 × 10⁴. Using a combination of maltose and fructose, the progressive motility of frozen/thawed semen and the fertility rates of eggs were significantly higher ((p < 0.05) 40.2% and 68.5%, respectively) than when using a combination of trehalose and fructose in a cryoprotective diluent (33.4% and 62.4%, respectively). A higher rate of chromatin integrity at the level of 92.4% was obtained when using Treh20 versus 74.5% Mal20 (p < 0.05). Maltose positively affected the preservation of frozen/thawed sperm in the genital tract of hens. On the seventh day from the last insemination when using Mal20, the fertilization of eggs was 42.6% and only 27.3% when using Treh20. Despite the same molecular weight, maltose and trehalose have different physicochemical and biological properties that determine their function and effectiveness as components of cryoprotective media. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactives: From Discovery to Applications in Reproduction)

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23 pages, 6074 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supercritical Fluid Extract of Putranjiva roxburghii Wall. Seeds Mitigates Fertility Impairment in a Zebrafish Model

by Acharya Balkrishna, Pradeep Nain, Monali Joshi, Lakshmipathi Khandrika and Anurag Varshney

Molecules 2021, 26(4), 1020; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26041020 - 15 Feb 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6415

Abstract

Putrajeevak (Putranjiva roxburghii Wall.; synonym Drypetes roxburghii (Wall.) Hurus) seeds have been used since ancient times in the treatment of infertility in the Ayurvedic system of medicine in India. In this study, the oil component of Putrajeevak seeds (PJSO) was extracted using the supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) method using liquid CO₂ and the constituents were analyzed using gas chromatography-flame ionized detectorand high-performance thin-layer chromatography. PJSO contained trace amounts of β-sitosterol with oleic and linoleic acids as the major fatty acid constituents. Male and female zebrafish were mutagenized with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and fish that produced less than 20 viable embryos were selected for the study. SCFE oil extracts from the P. roxburghii seeds were used in this study to reverse fertility impairment. The mutant fish were fed with PJSO for a period of 14 days and the rates of fertility, conception, and fecundity were determined with wild-type healthy fish as a breeding partner. Treatment with PJSO increased the ovarian follicle count as well as the number of mature eggs, while reducing the number of ovarian cysts. Sperm count as well as sperm motility were greatly enhanced in the ENU-mutagenized male zebrafish when treated with PJSO. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the effectiveness of P. roxburghii seed oil in reversing impaired fertility in both male and female zebrafish models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactives: From Discovery to Applications in Reproduction)

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Review

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40 pages, 3976 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Selected Natural Biomolecules in Sperm Production and Functionality

by Eva Tvrdá, Filip Benko, Tomáš Slanina and Stefan S. du Plessis

Molecules 2021, 26(17), 5196; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26175196 - 27 Aug 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5888

Abstract

Emerging evidence from in vivo as well as in vitro studies indicates that natural biomolecules may play important roles in the prevention or management of a wide array of chronic diseases. Furthermore, the use of natural compounds in the treatment of male sub- or infertility has been proposed as a potential alternative to conventional therapeutic options. As such, we aimed to evaluate the effects of selected natural biomolecules on the sperm production, structural integrity, and functional activity. At the same time, we reviewed their possible beneficial or adverse effects on male reproductive health. Using relevant keywords, a literature search was performed to collect currently available information regarding molecular mechanisms by which selected natural biomolecules exhibit their biological effects in the context of male reproductive dysfunction. Evidence gathered from clinical trials, in vitro experiments and in vivo studies suggest that the selected natural compounds affect key targets related to sperm mitochondrial metabolism and motion behavior, oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA integrity and cell death. The majority of reports emphasize on ameliorative, stimulating and protective effects of natural biomolecules on the sperm function. Nevertheless, possible adverse and toxic behavior of natural compounds has been indicated as well, pointing out to a possible dose-dependent impact of natural biomolecules on the sperm survival and functionality. As such, further research leading to a deeper understanding of the beneficial or adverse roles of natural compounds is necessary before these can be employed for the management of male reproductive dysfunction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactives: From Discovery to Applications in Reproduction)

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15 pages, 1125 KiB

Open AccessReview

Protective Roles of Honey in Reproductive Health: A Review

by Siti Sarah Mohamad Zaid, Siti Suraya Ruslee and Mohd Helmy Mokhtar

Molecules 2021, 26(11), 3322; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26113322 - 1 Jun 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6381

Abstract

Nowadays, most people who lead healthy lifestyles tend to use natural products as supplements, complementary medicine or alternative treatments. Honey is God’s precious gift to mankind. Honey has been highly appreciated and extensively used since ancient history due to its high nutritional and therapeutic values. It is also known to enhance fertility. In the last few decades, the important role of honey in modern medicine has been acknowledged due to the large body of convincing evidence derived from extensive laboratory studies and clinical investigations. Honey has a highly complex chemical and biological composition that consists of various essential bioactive compounds, enzymes, amino and organic acids, acid phosphorylase, phytochemicals, carotenoid-like substances, vitamins and minerals. Reproductive health and fertility rates have declined in the last 30 years. Therefore, this review aimed to highlight the protective role of honey as a potential therapeutic in maintaining reproductive health. The main role of honey is to enhance fertility and treat infertility problems by acting as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy for protecting the vagina and uterus from atrophy, protecting against the toxic effects of xeno-oestrogenic agents on female reproductive functions and helping in the treatment of gynaecological disorders, such as vulvovaginal candidiasis infection, that affect women’s lives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Bioactives: From Discovery to Applications in Reproduction)

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