Abatement of the Stimulatory Effect of Copper Nanoparticles Supported on Titania on Ovarian Cell Functions by Some Plants and Phytochemicals

• Main Authors: Alexander V. Sirotkin, Monika Radosová, Adam Tarko, Zuzana Fabova, Iris Martín-García, Francisco Alonso
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: apoptosis; copper nanoparticles; hormones; buckwheat; vitex; rutin
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/9/1859

The application of nanoparticles has experienced a vertiginous growth, but their interaction with food and medicinal plants in organisms, especially in the control of reproduction, remains unresolved. We examined the influence of copper nanoparticles supported on titania (CuNPs/TiO₂), plant extracts (buckwheat (<i>Fagopyrum esculentum</i>) and vitex (<i>Vitex agnus-castus</i>)), phytochemicals (rutin and apigenin), and their combination with CuNPs/TiO₂ on ovarian cell functions, using cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells. Cell viability, proliferation (PCNA accumulation), apoptosis (accumulation of bax), and hormones release (progesterone, testosterone, and 17<i>β</i>-estradiol) were analyzed by the Trypan blue test, quantitative immunocytochemistry, and ELISA, respectively. CuNPs/TiO₂ increased cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and testosterone but not progesterone release, and reduced the 17<i>β</i>-estradiol output. Plant extracts and components have similar stimulatory action on ovarian cell functions as CuNPs/TiO₂, but abated the majority of the CuNPs/TiO₂ effects. This study concludes that (1) CuNPs/TiO₂ can directly stimulate ovarian cell functions, promoting ovarian cell proliferation, apoptosis, turnover, viability, and steroid hormones release; (2) the plants buckwheat and vitex, as well as rutin and apigenin, can promote some of these ovarian functions too; and (3) these plant additives mitigate the CuNPs/TiO₂’s activity, something that must be considered when applied together.