Abstract
We aimed to examine the influence of benzene and of three dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) plant extracts—buckwheat (Fagopyrum Esculentum), rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), and vitex, (Vitex Agnus-Castus), and the combination of benzene with these three plant extracts on basic ovarian cell functions. Specifically, the study investigated the influence of benzene (0, 10, 100, or 1000 ng/mL) with and without these three plant additives on porcine ovarian granulosa cells cultured during 2 days with and without these additives. Cell viability, proliferation (accumulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA), apoptosis (accumulation of Bcl-2-associated X protein, bax), and the release of progesterone (P) and estradiol (E) were analyzed by the Trypan blue test, quantitative immunocytochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Benzene reduced cell viability, as well as P and E release. Plant extracts, given alone, were able directly promote or suppress ovarian cell functions. Furthermore, buckwheat and rooibos, but not vitex prevented the inhibitory action of benzene on cell viability. Buckwheat induced the stimulatory action of benzene on proliferation. Rooibos and vitex promoted benzene effect on cell apoptosis. All these plant additives were able to promote suppressive action of benzene on ovarian steroidogenesis.
These observations show that benzene may directly suppress ovarian cell viability, P, and E release and that buckwheat, rooibos, and vitex can directly influence ovarian cell functions and modify the effects of benzene—prevent toxic influence of benzene on cell viability and induce stimulatory action of benzene on ovarian cell proliferation, apoptosis, and steroidogenesis. The observed direct effects of benzene and these plants on ovarian cells functions, as well as the functional interrelationships of benzene and these plants, should be taken into account in their future applications.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Prof. M. Vondraková, Dr. M. Bobčeková, Constantine The Philosopher University in Nitra and King Saud University for their help and support of the performed studies. The authors also extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding the Research Group RG-254.
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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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These studies were supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency (APVV; project no. APVV-15-0296), the Slovak Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, and the Slovak Academy of Science (VEGA; project no. VEGA 1/0392/17). The authors thank the Deanship of Scientific Research (Research group RG-254) and RSSU at King Saud University for their technical support.
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AVS formulated the concept of the study, it was the main contribution in writing the manuscript. MM, AT, ZF, and AA were the main contributors in performing experiments and data analysis. SA and AHH analyzed and interpreted the obtained data and arranged editing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Sirotkin, A.V., Macejková, M., Tarko, A. et al. Effects of benzene on gilts ovarian cell functions alone and in combination with buckwheat, rooibos, and vitex. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 3434–3444 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10739-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10739-7