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Ricinus communis L. stem bark extracts regulate ovarian cell functions and secretory activity and their response to Luteinising hormone

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 27, pages 215–220 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Ricinus communis L. has ethnopharmacological contraceptive reputation but its stem bark has unexplored mechanisms of action in female reproductive system. In the present study, the effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts from the stem bark of the plant was examined on basic porcine ovarian granulosa cell functions and its response to Luteinising hormone (LH)—the upstream hormonal regulator. Systemic treatment of methanolic and aqueous extracts stimulated cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA) and also promoted cell apoptosis (caspase-3). Aqueous extract has inverted the stimulatory effect of LH on PCNA but not on caspase-3. Methanolic extract stimulated as well as inhibited progesterone release and stimulated testosterone secretion. Whereas aqueous extract inhibited both steroid releases and suppressed the stimulatory effect of LH on progesterone release and promoted the inhibitory effect of LH on testosterone release. In conclusion, the present study unveils the mechanism of action of R. communis stem bark in in vitro condition. These suggest its possible contraceptive efficacy by exerting its regulatory role over LH and on basic ovarian cell functions and secretion activity.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Slovak Academic Information Agency (SAIA, project no. SAIA 185-2011) and National Scholarship Programme of Government of Slovakia summer session 2011, Slovak Agency for Promotion of Research and Development (APVV, projects no. 0137-10 and 0854-11) and Operational Programme Research and Development funded from the European Regional Development Fund (project no. 26220220176) for their financial support to carry out the experiments. We are thankful to Mrs. Katarina Tothova and Ing. Zofia Kuklova (Animal Production Research Centre, Nitra-Luzianky) for their technical help to carry out the experiments and to Mrs. Iris Stelter (Institute of Animal Science, Neustadt, Germany) for performing the hormone EIA. We would also like to extend our deep sense of gratitude to University Grants Commission, Government of India. DBT- DeLCON, Bioinformatics Centre, Assam University and Assam University Biotech Hub are sincerely acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Animal Production Research Centre Nitra, Institute for Genetics and Reproduction of Farm Animals, Luzianky, Slovak Republic

    S Nath, A Kadasi & A V Sirotkin

  2. Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar, India

    S Nath, A D Talukdar & M D Choudhury

  3. Department of Animal Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovak Republic

    A Kadasi & A Kolesarova

  4. Department of Functional Genomics and Bioregulation, Federal Research Centre, Institute of Animal Science, Neustadt,, Germany

    R Grossmann

  5. Department of Zoology and Anthropology, Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovak Republic

    A V Sirotkin

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  1. S Nath
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Correspondence to M D Choudhury.

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Nath, S., Kadasi, A., Grossmann, R. et al. Ricinus communis L. stem bark extracts regulate ovarian cell functions and secretory activity and their response to Luteinising hormone. Int J Impot Res 27, 215–220 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2015.19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2015.19

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