Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand; Research Institute for Human High Performance and Health Promotion (HHP & HP), Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
J Integr Med. 2022 Nov;20(6):534-542. doi: 10.1016/j.joim.2022.09.002. Epub 2022 Sep 13.
Although the protective effects of Momordica charantia L. (MC) extract on chemical-induced testicular damage have been studied, the preventive effects of MC extract on functional proteins in the epididymis under chronic stress have never been reported. This study investigated the protective effects of MC fruit extract on protein secretion, especially tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins, in the epididymis of rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS).
Total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoid compounds (TFC) and antioxidant capacities of MC extract were measured. Adult male rats were divided into 4 groups: control group, CUS group, and 2 groups of CUS that received different doses of MC extract (40 or 80 mg/kg). In treated groups, rats were given MC daily, followed by induction of CUS (1 stressor was randomly applied from a battery of 9 potential stressors) for 60 consecutive days. Plasma corticosterone and testosterone levels were analyzed after the end of experiment. Expressions of heat-shock protein 70 (HSP-70) and tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins present in the fluid of the head and tail of the epididymis were quantified using Western blot.
MC extract contained TPC of (19.005 ± 0.270) mg gallic acid equivalents and TFC of (0.306 ± 0.012) mg catechin equivalents per gram, and had 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl antioxidant capacity of (4.985 ± 0.086) mg trolox equivalents per gram, radical 50% inhibitory concentration of (2.011 ± 0.008) mg/mL and ferric reducing antioxidant power of (23.697 ± 0.819) µmol Fe(II) per gram. Testosterone level in the epididymis was significantly increased, while the corticosterone level was significantly improved in groups treated with MC extract, compared to the CUS animals. Particularly, an 80 mg/kg dose of MC extract prevented the impairments of HSP-70 and tyrosine-phosphorylated protein expressions in the luminal fluid of the epididymis of CUS rats.
MC fruit extract had antioxidant activities and improved the functional proteins secreted from the head and tail of the epididymis. It is possible to develop the MC fruit extract as a male fertility supplement for enhancing functional sperm maturation in stressed men.
虽然苦瓜（Momordica charantia L.）提取物对化学诱导的睾丸损伤具有保护作用，但苦瓜提取物对慢性应激下附睾中功能性蛋白质的预防作用尚未见报道。本研究探讨了苦瓜果实提取物对慢性不可预测应激（CUS）大鼠附睾蛋白质分泌，特别是酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白质的保护作用。
测定苦瓜提取物的总酚含量（TPC）、总黄酮含量（TFC）和抗氧化能力。将成年雄性大鼠分为 4 组：对照组、CUS 组和 2 组 CUS 接受不同剂量的苦瓜提取物（40 或 80mg/kg）。在处理组中，大鼠每日给予苦瓜提取物，随后进行 60 天连续 CUS 诱导（从 9 种潜在应激源中随机选择 1 种应激源）。实验结束后分析血浆皮质酮和睾酮水平。使用 Western blot 定量分析附睾头和尾液中热休克蛋白 70（HSP-70）和酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白质的表达。
苦瓜提取物中 TPC 为（19.005±0.270）mg 没食子酸当量，TFC 为（0.306±0.012）mg 儿茶素当量，2,2-二苯基-1-苦基肼自由基抗氧化能力为（4.985±0.086）mg trolox 当量/g，自由基 50%抑制浓度为（2.011±0.008）mg/mL，铁还原抗氧化能力为（23.697±0.819）µmol Fe（II）/g。与 CUS 动物相比，用苦瓜提取物处理的大鼠附睾组织中的睾酮水平显著升高，而皮质酮水平显著改善。特别是，80mg/kg 剂量的苦瓜提取物可防止 CUS 大鼠附睾管腔液中 HSP-70 和酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白表达的损伤。
苦瓜果实提取物具有抗氧化活性，并改善了附睾头和尾分泌的功能性蛋白质。有可能将苦瓜果实提取物开发为男性生育补充剂，以增强应激男性功能性精子成熟。
