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Fulltext Protective effects of orlistat on lipid profile, cardiac oxidative stress biomarkers and histology in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

Othman ZA, Wan Ghazali WS, Noordin L, Mohd. Yusof NA, Mohamed M

IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia, 2019;18(2):23-28.
MyJurnal

Orlistat is a widely used drug in treating obesity as it promotes weight reduction. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effects of orlistat (10 mg/kg/day) on cardiovascular parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Methods:Twenty-four male rats Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups and fed with normal diet (N), HFD and HFD with orlistat (HFD+O). Orlistat was administered daily by oral gavage and after six weeks, all rats were sacrificed. Results:Administration of orlistat along with HFD (HFD+O) has brought significant decreases in Lee obesity index and LDL level compared to HFD group. Activities of cardiac superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) were significantly higher, whereas level of oxidised LDL was significantly lower in HFD+O group compared to HFD group. HFD group had significantly higher necrotic patch area in myocardium while minimal histological changes were seen in HFD+O group. Conclusion:This study may suggest that administration of orlistat at 10 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks may have protective effects against the changes on Lee obesity index, lipid profiles, cardiac oxidative stress biomarkers and histology of myocardium in HFD-induced obese rats possibly through its hypolipidaemic and antioxidant actions.
Fulltext The Deep Learning Solutions on Lossless Compression Methods for Alleviating Data Load on IoT Nodes in Smart Cities

Nasif A, Othman ZA, Sani NS

Sensors (Basel), 2021 Jun 20;21(12).
PMID: 34203024 DOI: 10.3390/s21124223

Networking is crucial for smart city projects nowadays, as it offers an environment where people and things are connected. This paper presents a chronology of factors on the development of smart cities, including IoT technologies as network infrastructure. Increasing IoT nodes leads to increasing data flow, which is a potential source of failure for IoT networks. The biggest challenge of IoT networks is that the IoT may have insufficient memory to handle all transaction data within the IoT network. We aim in this paper to propose a potential compression method for reducing IoT network data traffic. Therefore, we investigate various lossless compression algorithms, such as entropy or dictionary-based algorithms, and general compression methods to determine which algorithm or method adheres to the IoT specifications. Furthermore, this study conducts compression experiments using entropy (Huffman, Adaptive Huffman) and Dictionary (LZ77, LZ78) as well as five different types of datasets of the IoT data traffic. Though the above algorithms can alleviate the IoT data traffic, adaptive Huffman gave the best compression algorithm. Therefore, in this paper, we aim to propose a conceptual compression method for IoT data traffic by improving an adaptive Huffman based on deep learning concepts using weights, pruning, and pooling in the neural network. The proposed algorithm is believed to obtain a better compression ratio. Additionally, in this paper, we also discuss the challenges of applying the proposed algorithm to IoT data compression due to the limitations of IoT memory and IoT processor, which later it can be implemented in IoT networks.
Fulltext A modified active appearance model based on an adaptive artificial bee colony

Abdulameer MH, Sheikh Abdullah SN, Othman ZA

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:879031.
PMID: 25165748 DOI: 10.1155/2014/879031

Active appearance model (AAM) is one of the most popular model-based approaches that have been extensively used to extract features by highly accurate modeling of human faces under various physical and environmental circumstances. However, in such active appearance model, fitting the model with original image is a challenging task. State of the art shows that optimization method is applicable to resolve this problem. However, another common problem is applying optimization. Hence, in this paper we propose an AAM based face recognition technique, which is capable of resolving the fitting problem of AAM by introducing a new adaptive ABC algorithm. The adaptation increases the efficiency of fitting as against the conventional ABC algorithm. We have used three datasets: CASIA dataset, property 2.5D face dataset, and UBIRIS v1 images dataset in our experiments. The results have revealed that the proposed face recognition technique has performed effectively, in terms of accuracy of face recognition.
Fulltext Support vector machine based on adaptive acceleration particle swarm optimization

Abdulameer MH, Sheikh Abdullah SN, Othman ZA

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:835607.
PMID: 24790584 DOI: 10.1155/2014/835607

Existing face recognition methods utilize particle swarm optimizer (PSO) and opposition based particle swarm optimizer (OPSO) to optimize the parameters of SVM. However, the utilization of random values in the velocity calculation decreases the performance of these techniques; that is, during the velocity computation, we normally use random values for the acceleration coefficients and this creates randomness in the solution. To address this problem, an adaptive acceleration particle swarm optimization (AAPSO) technique is proposed. To evaluate our proposed method, we employ both face and iris recognition based on AAPSO with SVM (AAPSO-SVM). In the face and iris recognition systems, performance is evaluated using two human face databases, YALE and CASIA, and the UBiris dataset. In this method, we initially perform feature extraction and then recognition on the extracted features. In the recognition process, the extracted features are used for SVM training and testing. During the training and testing, the SVM parameters are optimized with the AAPSO technique, and in AAPSO, the acceleration coefficients are computed using the particle fitness values. The parameters in SVM, which are optimized by AAPSO, perform efficiently for both face and iris recognition. A comparative analysis between our proposed AAPSO-SVM and the PSO-SVM technique is presented.
The promising roles of medicinal plants and bioactive compounds on hepatic lipid metabolism in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in animal models: molecular targets

Zakaria Z, Othman ZA, Nna VU, Mohamed M

Arch Physiol Biochem, 2023 Dec;129(6):1262-1278.
PMID: 34153200 DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2021.1939387

Imbalance in hepatic lipid metabolism can lead to an abnormal triglycerides deposition in the hepatocytes which can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Four main mechanisms responsible for regulating hepatic lipid metabolism are fatty acid uptake, de novo lipogenesis, lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. Controlling the expression of transcription factors at molecular level plays a crucial role in NAFLD management. This paper reviews various medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds emphasising mechanisms involved in hepatic lipid metabolism, other important NAFLD pathological features, and their promising roles in managing NAFLD through regulating key transcription factors. Although there are many medicinal plants popularly investigated for NAFLD treatment, there is still little information and scientific evidence available and there has been no research on clinical trials scrutinised on this matter. This review also aims to provide molecular information of medicinal plants in NALFD treatment that might have potentials for future scientifically controlled studies.
Obesity-induced testicular oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis: Protective and therapeutic effects of orlistat

Suleiman JB, Nna VU, Zakaria Z, Othman ZA, Bakar ABA, Mohamed M

Reprod Toxicol, 2020 08;95:113-122.
PMID: 32450208 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.05.009

Obesity has been reported to induce oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the testis. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the anti-obesity drug orlistat, on testicular oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. Twenty-four adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were randomized into four groups (n = 6/group), namely; normal control (NC), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD plus orlistat (10 mg/kg body weight/day administered concurrently for 12 weeks) (HFD + Opr) and HFD plus orlistat (10 mg/kg body weight/day administered 6 weeks after induction of obesity) (HFD + Ot) groups. Antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly decreased, while mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic markers (p53, Bax/BCl-2, caspase-9, caspase-8 and caspase-3) were significantly increased in the testis of HFD group relative to NC group. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory markers (nuclear factor kappa B, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin (IL)-1β increased significantly, while anti-inflammatory marker (IL-10) decreased significantly in the testis of the HFD group relative to NC group. However, in both models of orlistat intervention (protective and treatment models) up-regulated antioxidant enzymes, down-regulated inflammation and apoptosis were observed in the testis of HFD-fed rats. Orlistat ameliorated testicular dysfunction by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in HFD-fed rats, suggesting its potential protective and therapeutic effects in the testis compromised by obesity.
Fulltext Bee Bread Ameliorates Vascular Inflammation and Impaired Vasorelaxation in Obesity-Induced Vascular Damage Rat Model: The Role of eNOS/NO/cGMP-Signaling Pathway

Othman ZA, Zakaria Z, Suleiman JB, Nna VU, Che Romli A, Wan Ghazali WS, et al.

Int J Mol Sci, 2021 Apr 19;22(8).
PMID: 33921777 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084225

Obesity and hyperlipidemia are major risk factors for developing vascular diseases. Bee bread (BB) has been reported to exhibit some biological actions, including anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemic. This study aims to investigate whether bee bread can ameliorate vascular inflammation and impaired vasorelaxation activity through eNOS/NO/cGMP pathway in obese rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10/group), namely: control (normal group), obese rats (OB group), obese rats treated with bee bread (0.5 g/kg/day, OB/BB group) and obese rats treated with orlistat (10 mg/kg/day, OB/OR group). The latter three groups were given a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks to induced obesity before being administered with their respective treatments for another 6 weeks. After 12 weeks of the total experimental period, rats in the OB group demonstrated significantly higher Lee obesity index, lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein), aortic proinflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α, nuclear factor-κβ), aortic structural damage and impairment in vasorelaxation response to acetylcholine (ACh). Bee bread significantly ameliorated the obesity-induced vascular damage manifested by improvements in the lipid profile, aortic inflammatory markers, and the impaired vasorelaxation activity by significantly enhancing nitric oxide release, promoting endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) immunoexpression. These findings suggest that the administration of bee bread ameliorates the impaired vasorelaxation response to ACh by improving eNOS/NO/cGMP-signaling pathway in obese rats, suggesting its vascular therapeutic role.
Orlistat attenuates obesity-induced decline in steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis by up-regulating steroidogenic genes

Suleiman JB, Nna VU, Othman ZA, Zakaria Z, Bakar ABA, Mohamed M

Andrology, 2020 09;8(5):1471-1485.
PMID: 32438512 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12824

BACKGROUND: Steroidogenesis decline is reported to be one of the mechanisms associated with obesity-induced male factor subfertility/infertility.
OBJECTIVES: We explored the possible preventive/therapeutic effects of orlistat (a medication prescribed for weight loss) on obesity-induced steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis decline.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were randomized into four groups (n = 6/group), namely; normal control, high-fat diet, high-fat diet plus orlistat preventive group and high-fat diet plus orlistat treatment group. Orlistat (10 mg/kg/b.w./d suspended in distilled water) was either concurrently administered with high-fat diet for 12 weeks (high-fat diet plus orlistat preventive group) or administered from week 7-12 post- high-fat diet feeding (high-fat diet plus orlistat treatment group). Thereafter, serum, testes and epididymis were collected for analyses.
RESULTS: Obesity increased serum leptin and decreased adiponectin levels, decreased serum and intra-testicular levels of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone and testosterone, sperm count, motility, viability, normal morphology and epididymal antioxidants, but increased epididymal malondialdehyde level and sperm nDNA fragmentation. Testicular mRNA transcript levels of androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP11A1), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were significantly decreased in the testes of the high-fat diet group. Further, the levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein protein and enzymatic activities of CYP11A1, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were also significantly decreased in the testes of the high-fat diet group. Treatment with orlistat significantly decreased leptin and increased adiponectin levels, improved sperm parameters, decreased sperm DNA fragmentation, increased the levels of steroidogenic hormones, proteins and associated genes in high-fat diet-induced obese male rats, with the preventive group (high-fat diet plus orlistat preventive group) having better results relative to the treatment group (high-fat diet plus orlistat treatment group).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Orlistat attenuated impaired spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis decline by up-regulating steroidogenic genes. This may not be unconnected to its significant effect in lowering serum leptin levels, since the hormone is known to dampen fertility potential. Therefore, orlistat may improve fertility potential in overweight/obese men.
Orlistat reverses intratesticular lactate transport decline and infertility in male obese rats

Suleiman JB, Nna VU, Zakaria Z, Othman ZA, Bakar ABA, Usman UZ, et al.

Reproduction, 2020 12;160(6):863-872.
PMID: 33112813 DOI: 10.1530/REP-20-0381

Obesity and its accompanying complications predispose to abnormal testicular glucose metabolism, penile erectile dysfunction and subfertility. This study examined the potentials of orlistat in attenuating erectile dysfunction and fertility decline in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in male rats. Eighteen adult male Sprague-Dawley rats whose weights were between 250 and 300 g were divided into three groups (n = 6/group) namely: normal control (NC), HFD and HFD + orlistat (10 mg/kg body weight/day co-administered for 12 weeks) (HFD+O). During the 11th and 12th week, mating behaviour and fertility parameters were evaluated, and parameters of glucose metabolism were assessed at the end of the 12th week. Orlistat increased testicular mRNA levels of glucose transporters (Glut1 and Glut3), monocarboxylate transporters (Mct2 and Mct4) and lactate dehydrogenase type C (Ldhc), decreased intratesticular lactate and glucose levels, and LDH activity in obese rats. Furthermore, orlistat increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), but decreased malondialdehyde level in the penis of obese rats. Similarly, orlistat improved penile cGMP level, sexual behaviour and fertility outcome in obese rats. Penile cGMP level correlated positively with total mounts and intromissions but correlated negatively with mount/intromission ratio. Orlistat improves fertility potential in obese state by targeting testicular lactate metabolism, penile oxidative stress and sexual behaviour in rats. Therefore, orlistat shows a promising protective effect and may preserve the fertility potential of obese men.
Fulltext Chemical Profile, Antioxidant Properties and Antimicrobial Activities of Malaysian Heterotrigona itama Bee Bread

Suleiman JB, Mohamed M, Abu Bakar AB, Nna VU, Zakaria Z, Othman ZA, et al.

Molecules, 2021 Aug 15;26(16).
PMID: 34443531 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164943

The aim of the study was to determine the chemical profile, antioxidant properties and antimicrobial activities of Heterotrigona itama bee bread from Malaysia. The pH, presence of phytochemicals, antioxidant properties, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), as well as antimicrobial activities, were assessed. Results revealed a decrease in the pH of bee bread water extract (BBW) relative to bee bread ethanolic extract (BBE) and bee bread hot water extract (BBH). Further, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, resins, glycosides and xanthoproteins were detected in BBW, BBH and BBE. Also, significant decreases in TPC, TFC, DPPH activity and FRAP were detected in BBW relative to BBH and BBE. We detected phenolic acids such as gallic acid, caffeic acid, trans-ferulic acid, trans 3-hydroxycinnamic acid and 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, and flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin and mangiferin in BBE using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The strongest antimicrobial activity was observed in Klebsilla pneumonia (MIC50 1.914 µg/mL), followed by E. coli (MIC50 1.923 µg/mL), Shigella (MIC50 1.813 µg/mL) and Salmonella typhi (MIC50 1.617 µg/mL). Bee bread samples possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Bee bread contains phenolic acids and flavonoids, and could be beneficial in the management and treatment of metabolic diseases.
Bee bread attenuates high fat diet induced renal pathology in obese rats via modulation of oxidative stress, downregulation of NF-kB mediated inflammation and Bax signalling

Eleazu C, Suleiman JB, Othman ZA, Zakaria Z, Nna VU, Hussain NHN, et al.

Arch Physiol Biochem, 2020 Apr 22.
PMID: 32319823 DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2020.1752258

Context: Global prevalence of obesity is increasing. Objective: To study the effect of bee bread (BB) on serum renal function parameters, oxidative stress, inflammatory and B-cell associated protein X (Bax) in the kidneys of high fat diet (HFD) obese rats. Methods: Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were used. Control: received rat diet and water (1 mL/kg); HFD group: received HFD and water (1 mL/kg): bee bread (BB) preventive or orlistat preventive: received HFD and BB (0.5 g/kg) or HFD and orlistat (10 mg/kg); BB or orlistat treatment: received BB (0.5 g/kg) or orlistat (10 mg/kg). Results: HFD group had increased body weight, Body Mass Index, Lee Obesity Indices, kidney weights, malondialdehyde, inflammatory markers, Bax; decreased glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant activity, no differences (p > .05) in food intakes, serum creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, catalase compared to control. Conclusion: BB modulated most of these parameters, as corroborated by histology.
Fulltext Protective and Therapeutic Effects of Orlistat on Metabolic Syndrome and Oxidative Stress in High-Fat Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) in Rats: Role on Nrf2 Activation

Zakaria Z, Othman ZA, Bagi Suleiman J, Jalil NAC, Ghazali WSW, Mohamed M

Vet Sci, 2021 Nov 12;8(11).
PMID: 34822647 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8110274

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an excessive buildup of liver lipids closely associated with various kinds of undesirable metabolic effects and oxidative stress. We aimed to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of orlistat on metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress parameters in high-fat diet (HFD) induced-MAFLD rats. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6/group), i.e., Normal control (N), HFD, HFD + orlistat (HFD + O) (10 mg/kg/day administered concomitantly for 12 weeks as a protective model), and obese+orlistat (OB + O) (10 mg/kg/day administered 6 weeks after induction of obesity as a therapeutic model) groups. After 12 weeks, the HFD group had significantly increased Lee obesity index, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein levels, liver total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, insulin resistance and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) together with decreased serum high-density lipoprotein level. Additionally, the HFD group also showed increased Nrf2 translocation to the nucleus with high Keap1 expression and increased liver oxidative stress parameters. Orlistat significantly improved all these alterations in HFD rats. We demonstrated that orlistat might have protective and therapeutic effects against HFD-induced MAFLD rats by its activation on Nrf2 signaling pathway, which subsequently improved metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress parameters.
Fulltext Hepatoprotective Effect of Bee Bread in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) Rats: Impact on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Zakaria Z, Othman ZA, Suleiman JB, Che Jalil NA, Ghazali WSW, Nna VU, et al.

Antioxidants (Basel), 2021 Dec 20;10(12).
PMID: 34943134 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10122031

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a pathological accumulation of hepatic lipid closely linked with many metabolic disorders, oxidative stress and inflammation. We aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of bee bread on oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in MAFLD rats. Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into four groups (n = 7/group): normal control (NC), high-fat diet (HFD), bee bread (HFD + Bb, HFD + 0.5 g/kg/day bee bread) and orlistat (HFD + Or, HFD + 10 mg/kg/day orlistat) groups. After 12 weeks, the HFD group demonstrated significantly higher body weight gain, serum levels of lipids (TG, TC, LDL), liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP) and adiponectin, liver lipids (TG, TC) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Furthermore, the HFD group showed significantly decreased antioxidant enzyme activities (GPx, GST, GR, SOD, CAT) and GSH level, and increased liver oxidative stress (TBARS, NO), translocation of Nrf2 to the nucleus, Keap1 expression and inflammation (TNF-α, NF-κβ, MCP-1) together with histopathological alterations (steatosis, hepatocyte hypertrophy, inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen deposition), which indicated the presence of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis. Bee bread significantly attenuated all these changes exerted by HFD feeding. In conclusion, our results suggest that bee bread might have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-steatotic and anti-fibrotic effects that are beneficial in protecting liver progression towards NASH and fibrosis.
Bee bread attenuates the progression of atherosclerosis by activating Nrf2/Keap1 and modulating TNF-α/NF-κβ-associated mast cell migration and a mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway in the obese rat model

Othman ZA, Zakaria Z, Suleiman JB, Che Jalil NA, Wan Ghazali WS, Mohamed M

Food Funct, 2022 Aug 01;13(15):8119-8130.
PMID: 35796099 DOI: 10.1039/d2fo00949h

This study explores the anti-atherosclerotic effects of bee bread in the context of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis phenomena in an obesity animal model, and its vitamin composition. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with a normal diet (Normal group) and a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity. After 6 weeks, obese rats that received the HFD were treated either with distilled water (Ob group), bee bread at 0.5 g per kg per day (Ob + Bb group), or orlistat at 10 mg per kg per day (Ob + Or group) concomitant with the HFD for another 6 weeks. Bee bread significantly improved atherosclerotic changes by enhancing the immunoexpressions of Nrf2/Keap1, impeding the immunoexpressions of NF-κβ downstream proteins, and intensifying Bcl-2 upregulation, attributed to the improvement in mast cell adherence and collagen deposition in the aortic wall of the Ob + Bb group. We have demonstrated that the treatment with bee bread attenuates the progression of atherosclerosis through its inhibition of vascular oxidative stress, and retardation of inflammatory reaction and apoptosis in obese rats, indicating its potential therapeutic targets for obesity-related vascular diseases. This could be partly attributed to the components of vitamins such as vitamins A, C and E that are present in bee bread, which need further study for the exact molecular mechanism of action.
Fulltext Cyclo-hexyl-ammonium nitrate

Bagabas AA, Aboud MF, Shemsi AM, Addurihem ES, Al-Othman ZA, Chidan Kumar CS, et al.

Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online, 2014 Mar 1;70(Pt 3):o253-4.
PMID: 24764971 DOI: 10.1107/S1600536814002244

In the title salt, C6H14N(+)·NO3 (-), the cyclo-hexyl ring adopts a chair conformation. The ammonium group occupies an equatorial position and the crystal struture is stabilized by inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions, resulting in a three-dimensional network.
Fulltext Malaysian propolis and metformin mitigate subfertility in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats by targeting steroidogenesis, testicular lactate transport, spermatogenesis and mating behaviour

Nna VU, Bakar ABA, Ahmad A, Umar UZ, Suleiman JB, Zakaria Z, et al.

Andrology, 2020 05;8(3):731-746.
PMID: 31816190 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12739

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is one of the risk factors for male subfertility/infertility. Malaysian propolis is reported to decrease hyperglycaemia in diabetic state.
OBJECTIVES: The present study investigated the protective effect of Malaysian propolis on diabetes-induced subfertility/infertility. Additionally, its combined beneficial effects with metformin were investigated.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into five groups, namely normal control, diabetic control, diabetic + Malaysian propolis (300 mg/k.g. b.w.), diabetic + metformin (300 mg/kg b.w.) and diabetic + Malaysian propolis + metformin. Diabetes was induced using a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg b.w.) and treatment lasted for 4 weeks. During the 4th week, mating behavioural experiments were performed using sexually receptive female rats. Thereafter, fertility parameters were assessed in the female rats.
RESULTS: Malaysian propolis increased serum and intratesticular free testosterone levels, up-regulated the mRNA levels of AR and luteinizing hormone receptor, up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of StAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD in the testes of diabetic rats. Furthermore, Malaysian propolis up-regulated testicular MCT2, MCT4 and lactate dehydrogenase type C mRNA levels, in addition to improving sperm parameters (count, motility, viability and normal morphology) and decreasing sperm nDNA fragmentation in diabetic rats. Malaysian propolis improved mating behaviour by increasing penile guanosine monophosphate levels. Malaysian propolis also improved fertility outcome as seen with decreases in pre- and post-implantation losses, increases in gravid uterine weight, litter size per dam and foetal weight. Malaysian propolis's effects were comparable to metformin. However, their combination yielded better results relative to the monotherapeutic interventions.
CONCLUSION: Malaysian propolis improves fertility potential in diabetic state by targeting steroidogenesis, testicular lactate metabolism, spermatogenesis and mating behaviour, with better effects when co-administered with metformin. Therefore, Malaysian propolis shows a promising complementary effect with metformin in mitigating Diabetes mellitus-induced subfertility/infertility.
Fulltext Composition of Royal Jelly (RJ) and Its Anti-Androgenic Effect on Reproductive Parameters in a Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Animal Model

Ab Hamid N, Abu Bakar AB, Mat Zain AA, Nik Hussain NH, Othman ZA, Zakaria Z, et al.

Antioxidants (Basel), 2020 Jun 07;9(6).
PMID: 32517356 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9060499

Royal jelly (RJ) has been shown to contribute its positive effects upon imbalance in the reproductive system. However, it remains unknown as to whether RJ has an anti-androgenic effect on reproductive parameters in a polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) animal model. Composition of RJ was assessed by phytochemical screening and the LC-MS method. Forty immature female rats (3 weeks, 40-50 g) were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8 per group), i.e., control, testosterone (T), T+100RJ (100 mg/kg/day), T+200RJ (200 mg/kg/day RJ), and T+400RJ (400 mg/kg/day RJ) groups. Hyperandrogenism was induced by daily subcutaneous injection of T propionate for 3 weeks, followed by oral RJ for 4 weeks. The T+200RJ group had a significantly higher follicle-stimulating hormone level, and significantly lower luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and estradiol levels in comparison to the T group. Malondialdehyde level and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly lower, while total antioxidant capacity level was significantly higher in the T+200RJ group compared to the T group. Histologically, the T+200RJ group showed recovery of various stages of ovarian follicular development. RJ at 200 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks significantly improved reproductive parameters in PCOS rats partly due to its anti-androgenic effect through antioxidant action and probably due to modulation on estrogenic activity, which needs further study to evaluate its exact mechanism of action.
Fulltext Bee bread mitigates downregulation of steroidogenic genes, decreased spermatogenesis, and epididymal oxidative stress in male rats fed with high-fat diet

Suleiman JB, Abu Bakar AB, Noor MM, Nna VU, Othman ZA, Zakaria Z, et al.

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 2021 Sep 01;321(3):E351-E366.
PMID: 34229480 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00093.2021

The pituitary-gonadal axis plays an important role in steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, and by extension, fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective role of bee bread, a natural bee product, against obesity-induced decreases in steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 200 and 300 g were divided into four groups (n = 8/group), namely: normal control (NC), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD plus bee bread administered concurrently for 12 wk (HFD + B), HFD plus orlistat administered concurrently for 12 wk (HFD + O) groups. Bee bread (0.5 g/kg) or orlistat (10 mg/kg/day) was suspended in distilled water and given by oral gavage daily for 12 wk. Levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and adiponectin, as well as sperm count, motility, viability, normal morphology, and epididymal antioxidants decreased, whereas levels of leptin, malondialdehyde, and sperm nDNA fragmentation increased significantly in the HFD group relative to the NC group. There were significant decreases in the testicular mRNA transcript levels of androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, cytochrome P450 enzyme, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) and 17β-HSD in the testes of the HFD group. Furthermore, mount, intromission and ejaculatory latencies increased, and penile cGMP level decreased significantly in the HFD group. Supplementation with bee bread significantly reduced leptin level and increased adiponectin level, enhanced sperm parameters and reduced sperm nDNA fragmentation, upregulated the levels of steroidogenic genes and proteins in HFD-induced obese male rats. Bee bread improved steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis by upregulating steroidogenic genes. Therefore, bee bread may be considered as a potential supplementation to protect against infertility in overweight men or men with obesity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The high-fat diet utilized in the present study induced obesity in the male rats. Bee bread supplementation mitigated impaired steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, mating behavior, and fertility potential by counteracting the downregulation of steroidogenic genes, thus increasing testosterone levels and suppressing epididymal oxidative stress. These benefits may be due to the abundance of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in bee bread.

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