Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Quercetin alleviates cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian insufficiency in mice by reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress and pyroptosis in granulosa cells

Researchers found that quercetin, a natural plant compound, protected mouse ovaries from chemotherapy-induced damage by reducing harmful oxidative stress in mitochondria and suppressing a form of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis, suggesting it could help preserve fertility in patients undergoing cancer treatment.

2022 Journal of Ovarian Research 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Astragalus Polysaccharides Ameliorate the Toxic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics on Boar Sperm

Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics can damage sperm cells by causing harmful chemical reactions, but a natural compound from the Astragalus plant can help protect against this damage. This study used pig sperm in lab dishes, so we don't know yet if the same protection would work in humans. The findings matter because microplastics are everywhere in our environment and food, and this research suggests natural antioxidants might help reduce their potential harm to reproductive health.

2026 Acta Veterinaria Eurasia
Article Tier 2

Omaveloxolone Prevents Polystyrene Microplastic-Induced Ovarian Granulosa Cell Apoptosis via the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway in Rats

Researchers exposed female rats to polystyrene microplastics for 90 days and found significant oxidative damage and cell death in ovarian tissue. They discovered that the drug omaveloxolone could protect against this damage by activating a cellular defense pathway called Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may pose risks to reproductive health, but also identifies a potential protective mechanism worth further investigation.

2024 Molecular Biotechnology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring Strategies to Prevent and Treat Ovarian Cancer in Terms of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants

This review explores the relationship between oxidative stress and ovarian cancer, examining how imbalances in harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species may contribute to cancer development. While not directly about microplastics, it is relevant because microplastics are known to trigger oxidative stress in the body, which could potentially play a role in cancer-related pathways.

2025 Antioxidants 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of royal jelly against polystyrene microplastic-induced testicular injury in mice.

Royal jelly — a natural bee product — protected mouse testes from damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing programmed cell death. This points to potential protective nutritional strategies against reproductive harm from microplastic ingestion, though results in mice need to be verified before drawing conclusions about human health.

2024 PubMed 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Attenuative effect of astilbin on polystyrene microplastics induced testicular damage: Biochemical, spermatological and histopathological-based evidences

Researchers found that astilbin, a natural plant compound, significantly reduced testicular damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure in rats. The microplastics disrupted hormone levels, sperm quality, and testicular tissue structure, but astilbin treatment counteracted these effects by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing inflammation. The study suggests that natural antioxidant compounds may offer protective benefits against the reproductive harm associated with microplastic exposure.

2023 Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Nobiletin Ameliorates Aging of Chicken Ovarian Prehierarchical Follicles by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Promoting Autophagy

This study investigated a plant compound called nobiletin (found in citrus fruits) as a treatment for age-related decline in chicken egg production caused by follicle aging. While focused on poultry science rather than microplastics, the research is relevant because it demonstrates how antioxidants can counteract oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage -- the same types of cellular harm that microplastics and nanoplastics have been shown to cause in various tissues.

2024 Cells 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Beyond apoptosis: evidence of other regulated cell death pathways in the ovary throughout development and life

This review explores different types of programmed cell death in the ovary beyond the well-known process of apoptosis, and their roles in ovarian development and function throughout a woman's life. While not focused on microplastics directly, these cell death pathways are important because emerging research shows that microplastic and nanoplastic exposure can trigger abnormal cell death in ovarian tissue. Understanding these pathways is key to assessing how environmental pollutants may affect female fertility.

2023 Human Reproduction Update 118 citations
Article Tier 2

Protective effect of Luffa cylindrica fermentation liquid on cyclophosphamide-induced premature ovarian failure in female mice by attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis

Researchers tested a fermented extract from loofah plants (Luffa cylindrica) as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure in mice, finding it significantly restored hormone levels and reduced ovarian cell damage by suppressing inflammation and cell death pathways. The results suggest this natural fermentation product may help protect fertility in women undergoing toxic chemotherapy treatments.

2024 Journal of Ovarian Research 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Morroniside protect human granulosa cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage via regulating Nrf2 and MAPK signaling pathway

This study investigated whether morroniside, a compound from the Cornus plant, can protect ovarian cells from oxidative stress-induced damage. The research found protective effects in lab experiments, relevant to understanding how environmental oxidative stressors—including pollutants like microplastics—may affect female reproductive cells.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Protective Role of Kelulut Honey against Toxicity Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on Morphology, Hormones, and Sex Steroid Receptor Expression in the Uterus of Rats

Researchers found that Kelulut honey protected the rat uterus against toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on morphology, hormones, and sex steroid receptor expression, suggesting its phytochemical properties may counteract reproductive disruption from microplastics.

2023 Toxics 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to microplastics leads to a defective ovarian function and change in cytoskeleton protein expression in rat

Researchers exposed female rats to polystyrene microplastics over multiple reproductive cycles and found, for the first time, that the particles accumulated in different parts of the ovarian tissue. The microplastics reduced ovarian weight, disrupted the normal development of egg follicles, altered the reproductive cycle, and lowered estrogen levels. The study suggests these effects are driven by oxidative stress and changes in key structural proteins within the ovary.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 99 citations
Article Tier 2

The mediating role of ferroptosis and mitochondrial dynamics disorder in the aggravation of cardiac injury by polystyrene microplastics

Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics worsen heart injury in mice, particularly when combined with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin. The study found that microplastics aggravated cardiac damage through ferroptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction pathways, and that two protective compounds, Ferrostatin-1 and luteolin, showed potential in mitigating these harmful effects on heart tissue.

2026 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Article Tier 2

Pharmacotherapeutic potential of ginkgetin against polystyrene microplastics–instigated testicular toxicity in rats: A biochemical, spermatological, and histopathological assessment

In a rat study, polystyrene microplastics caused significant damage to the testes, including reduced sperm quality, oxidative stress, and tissue inflammation, but the natural plant compound ginkgetin was able to partially reverse this damage. Ginkgetin worked by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing the inflammatory response triggered by the microplastics. This suggests that natural antioxidant compounds might help protect male reproductive health from the harmful effects of microplastic exposure.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Paeoniflorin mitigates high glucose-induced lifespan reduction by inhibiting insulin signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans

Researchers found that paeoniflorin, a natural plant compound, helped counteract the lifespan-shortening effects of high glucose exposure in the roundworm C. elegans by modulating insulin signaling pathways. While not directly about microplastics, this study is relevant because it explores protective mechanisms against environmental stressors at the cellular level. Understanding how natural compounds protect organisms from toxic exposures could inform research on mitigating microplastic-related harm.

2023 Frontiers in Pharmacology 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics cause granulosa cells apoptosis and fibrosis in ovary through oxidative stress in rats

Researchers exposed female rats to polystyrene microplastics at different concentrations for 90 days and examined the effects on their ovaries. The study found that microplastic exposure caused cell death and tissue scarring in the ovaries through oxidative stress, suggesting that microplastics may have implications for female reproductive health.

2020 Toxicology 415 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Possible Ameliorative Role of Robinetin to Counteract Polystyrene Microplastics Instigated Renal Toxicity in Rats

Researchers tested whether robinetin, a plant-derived compound, could protect rat kidneys from damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure. They found that microplastics caused significant kidney harm through oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death, but robinetin supplementation substantially reversed these effects. The study suggests that natural antioxidant compounds may offer a protective strategy against microplastic-related organ damage.

2024 Pakistan Veterinary Journal 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Protective effect of Moringa oleifera leaf ethanolic extract against uranyl acetate-induced testicular dysfunction in rats

Researchers found that Moringa oleifera leaf extract protected rats from testicular damage caused by uranyl acetate, a toxic uranium compound, by boosting antioxidant defenses and reducing oxidative stress. While focused on uranium toxicity, the protective mechanisms studied are relevant to microplastics research because microplastics also cause testicular damage through oxidative stress in animal studies. Natural antioxidants like those in Moringa may help protect reproductive health from environmental pollutants.

2024 Scientific Reports 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Preventing ovarian aging: from redox-targeted strategies to extracellular vesicle-based therapies

This review paper summarizes research showing that ovarian aging (when a woman's ovaries stop working properly) can be sped up by things like smoking, unhealthy diets, chemicals in plastics, and tiny plastic particles we're exposed to every day. Scientists are studying treatments like antioxidants and special cell therapies that might help protect women's ovaries from this damage. This matters because healthier ovaries could help women maintain their fertility longer and reduce health problems related to hormone changes as they age.

2026 Frontiers in Aging
Article Tier 2

Role of the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Ovarian Aging: Potential Mechanism and Protective Strategies

This review explores how the Nrf2 signaling pathway, a key defense system against oxidative stress, plays a role in ovarian aging, which leads to menopause, reduced fertility, and health risks like osteoporosis. While not focused on microplastics specifically, the Nrf2 pathway is one of the main systems that microplastics disrupt when they accumulate in reproductive tissues. Understanding this pathway helps explain how environmental pollutants like microplastics could accelerate ovarian aging and harm fertility.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of possible attenuative role of chrysoeriol against polyethylene microplastics instigated testicular damage: A biochemical, spermatogenic and histological study

Researchers investigated whether the plant compound chrysoeriol could protect against testicular damage caused by polyethylene microplastics in a rat model. The study found that microplastic exposure reduced antioxidant enzyme activity and increased inflammation markers, while co-administration of chrysoeriol showed a protective effect by mitigating oxidative stress and preserving sperm quality.

2023 Food and Chemical Toxicology 11 citations
Article Tier 2

OX-LDL promotes insufficient autophagy and apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells through regulation ROS-mediated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway

This study investigated how oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) triggers cell death in ovarian granulosa cells through oxidative stress pathways. The research identified specific molecular signaling cascades involved in follicle cell damage. While not directly about microplastics, oxidative stress pathways of the type studied here are also activated by microplastic exposure, making this relevant to understanding plastic-related reproductive health risks.

2023 Journal of Clinical Images and Medical Case Reports
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in ovarian function and ozone-based mitigation strategies: Emerging evidence and translational implications

This review synthesized emerging evidence that microplastics accumulate in human follicular fluid, oocytes, placenta, and semen, causing oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and meiotic disruption in reproductive cells, and discussed ozone-based strategies as potential mitigation approaches.

2025 Current Research in Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Glycine alleviates ovarian granulosa cell ferroptosis induced by ERα-mediated internalization of polystyrene microplastics

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastic exposure in mice triggers ferroptosis (iron-mediated cell death) in ovarian granulosa cells via ERα-mediated internalization and YAP1-ACSL4 signaling, and demonstrated that the amino acid glycine can restore iron homeostasis and alleviate this reproductive toxicity.

2026 Communications Biology