Protective role of Mas Cotek (Ficus deltoidea) against the toxic effects of bisphenol A on morphology and sex steroid receptor expression in the rat uterus
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2021
Abstract
Background: Numerous scientific studies have found that young women are at a high risk of reproductive infertility due to their routine exposure to numerous bisphenol A (BPA) products. This risk is highly associated with the production of reactive oxygen species from BPA products. Ficus deltoidea, which has strong antioxidant properties, was selected as a potential protective agent to counter the detrimental effects of BPA in the rat uterus. Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into four groups (n = 8) as follows: (i) the Normal Control group (NC), (ii) the BPA-exposed group (PC), (iii) the group concurrently treated with BPA and F. deltoidea (FC) and (iv) the group treated with F. deltoidea alone (F). Results: After 6 weeks of concurrent treatment with F. deltoidea, uterine abnormalities in the BPA-exposed rats showed a significant improvement. Specifically, the size of stromal cells increased; interstitial spaces between stromal cells expanded; the histology of the glandular epithelium and the myometrium appeared normal and mitotic figures were present. The suppressive effects of BPA on the expression levels of sex steroid receptors (ER alpha and ER beta) and the immunity gene C3 were significantly normalised by F. deltoidea treatment. The role of F. deltoidea as an antioxidant agent was proven by the significant reduction in malondialdehyde level in BPAexposed rats. Moreover, in BPA-exposed rats, concurrent treatment with F. deltoidea could normalise the level of the gonadotropin hormone, which could be associated with an increase in the percentage of rats with a normal oestrous cycle. Conclusion: F. deltoidea has the potential to counter the toxic effects of BPA on the female reproductive system. These protective effects might be due to the phytochemical properties of F. deltoidea. Therefore, future study is warranted to identify the bioactive components that contribute to the protective effects of F. deltoidea.
Keywords
Toxicity, Bisphenol A, Ficus, Uterus, Abnormalities, Oxidative
Divisions
fac_med,anaesthesiology
Funders
Postgraduate Research Grant [PG0872012B]
Publication Title
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
Volume
140
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Location
65 RUE CAMILLE DESMOULINS, CS50083, 92442 ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, FRANCE