Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Research and Development, DarooSazan Sorena Exir Pharmaceutical Company, Shiraz, Iran.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2024 Nov;302:273-282. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.09.028. Epub 2024 Sep 27.
Infertility is one of the significant global issues that affects approximately 15-17 % of couples worldwide, with around 50 % of cases being attributed to female infertility factors. The exploration of herbal extracts and their effects on female infertility has been limited, particularly regarding the underlying mechanisms beyond hormonal and oxidative stress influences. In this study, the herbal medicines with potential effects such as antioxidative properties, enhancement of insulin sensitivity, and modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis have been reviewed. Several herbal extracts were found to exhibit significant antioxidant properties and demonstrate phytoestrogenic effects on reproductive factors and hormonal levels. Antioxidants are essential in mitigating oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals, which in turn helps to lower insulin resistance, total cholesterol, fat accumulation, and the proliferation of cancerous cells. Furthermore, this review highlights that certain parts of specific plants are rich in polyphenolic compounds, including isoflavones and flavonoids, along with other advantageous substances that support women's reproductive health. These compounds not only modulate female endocrine systems but also alleviate menopausal symptoms and effectively address a range of reproductive disorders, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure (POF), endometriosis, hyperprolactinemia, and hypothalamic dysfunction. Turning to the other side, the plants and herbal extracts with suppressive effects on female fertility have been reviewed. These findings indicated that herbal extracts could be exploited to develop natural products as supplements for supporting the female reproductive system.
不孕不育是一个全球性的重大问题，全球约有 15-17%的夫妇受到影响，其中约 50%的病例归因于女性不孕因素。草药提取物及其对女性不孕的影响的研究有限，特别是关于激素和氧化应激影响之外的潜在机制。在这项研究中，综述了具有抗氧化特性、增强胰岛素敏感性和调节下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴等潜在作用的草药。一些草药提取物被发现具有显著的抗氧化特性，并对生殖因子和激素水平表现出植物雌激素样作用。抗氧化剂通过中和自由基来减轻氧化应激至关重要，这反过来有助于降低胰岛素抵抗、总胆固醇、脂肪堆积和癌细胞增殖。此外，本综述强调，某些特定植物的某些部位富含多酚化合物，包括异黄酮和类黄酮以及其他有益于女性生殖健康的物质。这些化合物不仅调节女性内分泌系统，还缓解更年期症状，并有效解决多种生殖障碍，如多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）、卵巢早衰（POF）、子宫内膜异位症、高催乳素血症和下丘脑功能障碍。另一方面，综述了对女性生育能力具有抑制作用的植物和草药提取物。这些发现表明，草药提取物可被开发为天然产品作为支持女性生殖系统的补充剂。
